The Minns Labor Government has today announced a range of measures and actions aimed at strengthening the governance, integrity and animal welfare standards of greyhound racing industry in NSW.
These measures respond to the findings of the inquiry led by the Hon. Lea Drake, appointed by Minister for Gaming and Racing David Harris, to address concerns regarding Greyhound Racing NSW (GRNSW).
Acting Commissioner Drake identified significant governance and operational failures within Greyhound Racing NSW under previous management, including deficiencies in procurement and recruitment practices, financial mismanagement, wasteful expenditure and a poor workplace culture.
In response to this report, the Government is taking action to ensure the industry lifts standards and practices by reforming the industry's operating licence and issuing a Statement of Expectations to the regulator.
New Operating Licence for Greyhound Racing NSW
The NSW Government will issue GRNSW with a new Operating Licence that sets out conditions legally requiring the organisation to address key recommendations of the Drake Inquiry to ensure its operations meet the highest standards of governance and animal welfare, including:
- increasing oversight of greyhound rehoming programs run by GRNSW and third-party groups to significantly improve rehoming pathways, including prioritising domestic rehoming programs where possible
- ensuring sustainable and transparent funding for animal welfare
- improving reporting on greyhound rehoming data
- improving reporting to the Greyhound Welfare Integrity Commission (GWIC) on greyhound deaths from unknown causes
- ensuring updates to the minimum track standards are actioned appropriately and implemented across all clubs
- improving a suite of internal GRNSW's policies, Board Charters and Code of Conduct to lift standards around organisational management, human resources, procurement process, financial and human resource management and workplace culture
- setting requirements for reporting by GRNSW on progress with implementing these reforms.
As is required in Section 25 of the Greyhound Racing Act 2017, Minister Harris will consult with the industry's regulator, GWIC, on the updated licence before issuing it to GRNSW.
Statement of Expectations for the Greyhound Welfare & Integrity Commission
While the Drake Inquiry focused on GRNSW, the Government recognises GWIC plays a critical role as the industry's regulator.
The Minister also today issued the Commission with a Ministerial Statement of Expectations that requires it to undertake key activities to boost greyhound welfare, that must be complied with by 30 June 2026.
The expectations include:
- bolstered reporting and transparency measures around track safety, greyhound rehoming and injuries to greyhounds
- requirements to publish catastrophic injury reporting on a per-track basis
- developing and issuing minimum standards for greyhound kennelling and rehoming facilities
- undertaking analysis of greyhound breeding and whelping rates to support a sustainable industry
- examining avenues to assist GWIC in determining the cause of greyhound deaths, where there are suspicious or unusual circumstances
- reviewing euthanasia policies to ensure best practice.
The Drake Inquiry was extensive and received more than 1,600 public submissions and more than 80,000 documents, as well as conducting 31 days of hearings. Minister Harris also today released the full 722-page report of the inquiry.
The Drake Inquiry report, NSW Government Response and Statement of Expectations issued to GWIC are available at www.nsw.gov.au/departments-and-agencies/office-of-racing/racing-publications-and-media-releases
Minister for Gaming and Racing David Harris said:
"Greyhound racing is an important industry across our state, especially in regional and rural communities where it provides jobs for many people and makes a major economic contribution.
"The Government is committed to ensuring the NSW greyhound racing industry is competitive, responsible and sustainable with the highest standards of governance, animal welfare and integrity.
"A number of concerns and allegations relating to Greyhound Racing NSW (GRNSW) have been raised with me and the Drake Inquiry addressed those concerns.
"This response will introduce a series of reforms and actions to instil a rigorous new operating environment to enable the greyhound industry's governing body and senior leadership to best meet the high standards we demand.
"I thank the Hon Lea Drake for the comprehensive inquiry she led which identified significant issues relating to GRNSW's governance, management, culture and greyhound welfare.
"The Drake Report recognises that GRNSW has made progress since the Special Commission of Inquiry into it by Michael McHugh AC QC in 2016 and also since the Drake Inquiry was established, under refreshed management.
"Ms Drake's report contains a large number of recommendations, which I have used to inform the suite of measures enacted today."
