Stop a new greyhound death track

Why are we opposing the new greyhound racetrack?

Independent inquiries and reviews into the NSW greyhound racing industry have exposed an exploitative industry guilty of systemic animal cruelty, with an entrenched culture of poor animal welfare standards and cruel practices. Additionally, the industry has shown itself resistant to – and incapable of – meaningful change or reform. The industry contributes to the unnecessary suffering and death of thousands of greyhounds each year. Millions of dollars of taxpayer money is wasted propping up this unsustainable industry and also addressing the widespread issues associated with Australia’s problem gambling.

Australia is one of only seven countries in the world with a commercial greyhound racing industry — and with 58 Australian tracks, of which 27 are located in NSW, it’s by far the biggest. Yet the industry is on its last legs. Greyhound racing simply cannot survive without the killing and wastage of a certain number of young dogs every year, government support with public money and the gambling industry.

There is no such thing as a ‘safe’ track.

All tracks, including straight tracks, cause greyhound injuries and deaths and merely increase the volume of racing.

Based on the industry’s current data, an average of one greyhound is killed every three days on Australian tracks, and there are 31 injuries reported daily. Additionally, off-track deaths contribute considerably to this abhorrent greyhound suffering. The distressing carnage on Australian greyhound tracks continues, despite ongoing assurances by governments, the greyhound racing industry, and the waste of many millions of dollars of public money, and can no longer be justified.

The NSW greyhound racing industry frequently makes unsubstantiated claims about track safety. To date, all the new and refurbished multi-million-dollar greyhound tracks across Australia have failed to result in improvements in track safety – this includes Richmond and Grafton in NSW, Angel Park in SA, and Traralgon in VIC.

The new Grafton race track, which was funded by public money, was described by GRNSW as “magnificent”, designed to improve safety and boost animal welfare standards at race tracks across the state, using the most advanced track design and technology. Despite these claims, since racing at Grafton resumed in 2021, 6 greyhounds have been killed on the track, 542 have been injured and 77 have suffered serious ‘Category D’ injuries.

We don’t need or want any more greyhound racing death tracks – oval or straight.

The greyhound racing industry is financially supported by 1) a gambling industry that is the largest per capita in the world and 2) Australia’s main political parties, including through the granting of public money which is diverted from healthcare, education, infrastructure and other areas critical to the whole community. The following figures are an indication of public money given to the greyhound racing in NSW alone:

• GWIC (Regulator) funding $19.7M FY 2022

• Deadly tracks $19.1M FY 2023

• Partial e-tracking system $3.6M 2021

• Land Tax Exemption $52M 2021-2023

• Betting Tax given to industry $8.6M FY 2022

Overbreeding is still a major issue.

The current rate of annual greyhound breeding nationally is six times the GAPs’ capacity to rehome. In the biggest racing states of NSW and Victoria, community-run rescues still rehome more dogs than the cashed-up racing industry.

It has been eight years since the industry was brought to its knees with live baiting and export exposures and the issues of overbreeding, injuries, deaths and a failure to responsibly rehome discarded greyhounds. The industry and GAP NSW continues to fail greyhounds and public expectations.