Greyhound racing in South Australia will continue after the Malinauskas Government accepted a recommendation that the industry had made sufficient progress on reforms, despite opposition from animal welfare advocates and the Greens.
The final report by Greyhound Industry Reform Inspector Sal Perna also called for an independent racing oversight body to strengthen integrity and animal welfare monitoring. The Government has accepted both recommendations and said legislation establishing the new body would be introduced to parliament next year.
The reforms followed a 2023 inquiry by former Victorian police commissioner Graham Ashton, which found significant changes were needed for the industry to continue operating and meet community expectations.
Greyhound Racing SA completed 73 of the 78 recommendations for which it was responsible, according to Mr Perna’s report. The changes included a new system to trace greyhounds, track safety measures intended to reduce injuries and an early ban on surgical artificial insemination ahead of a national ban due to begin in January.
Mr Perna said the reforms had substantially improved the industry but warned that progress would need to continue.
“I am satisfied that Greyhound Racing SA’s implementations have reformed the industry sufficiently to support its continuation,” he said.
“I have recommended to the government that the greyhound industry in South Australia should continue, however, an independent racing oversight body should be established to ensure that these important reforms progress.”
“Greyhound racing in SA is in a far better position than it was in 2023, but it cannot rest on its laurels.”
Calls for stronger animal welfare safeguards
Recreation, Sport and Racing Minister Rhiannon Pearce said continued operation of the sport must be accompanied by stronger protections.
“While the reform period has concluded, it is important that the industry continues to prioritise greyhound welfare, dedicate appropriate resources to compliance and welfare initiatives and enforce increased penalties to help deter cruelty and hold individuals who abuse animals to account,” she said.
Elle Trahair, director of the Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds SA, said the five incomplete recommendations all concerned animal welfare.
She said they related to enforcing kennel standards, controlling breeding, handling welfare complaints and providing suitable facilities for dogs waiting to be rehomed.
“If the industry cannot meet those obligations after two years, why is it being given another chance?” Ms Trahair said.
She also said the number of greyhounds awaiting rehoming had risen during the reform period and argued that ongoing breeding could put further pressure on rescue and adoption programmes.
Greens upper house member Melanie Selwood said the Government should be working towards phasing out the industry rather than establishing another regulator.
“Why are we giving another chance to a cruel and archaic industry that the rest of the world is already phasing out?” she said.
Ms Selwood said more than 11,000 South Australians had signed a petition calling for greyhound racing to end, while a parliamentary inquiry into the industry’s future remained under way.
Greyhound Racing SA chief executive Brenton Scott welcomed the decision, saying it provided certainty for more than 1,190 South Australians involved in the sport and supported 927 full-time equivalent jobs across the state.
Mr Scott said the organisation supported the proposed independent integrity body and remained committed to implementing the reforms arising from the Ashton review.
The Government said progress on the outstanding reforms would continue to be monitored through the Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing while work begins on the new oversight framework.
