AGY-7258 | Greyhound Welfare and Integrity Commission

Full description

Background
In February 2015 the Australian Broadcasting Commission exposed serious animal welfare breaches and corruption in the greyhound industry. In March 2015 the NSW Government announced a special commission of inquiry into the greyhound racing industry led by Michael McHugh AC QC. In July 2016 the NSW Premier Mike Baird announced a ban on greyhound racing. In October 2016 Premier Mike Bair reversed the greyhound ban and announced the establishment of the Greyhound Industry Reform Panel. In March 2017 the Government accepted all but one of the Greyhound Industry Reform Panel's recommendations. (1)

Greyhound Welfare and Integrity Commission
The Greyhound Welfare and Integrity Commission was established on 30 July 2017 under the Greyhound Racing Act 2017 (GRA) (2) due to a key recommendation of the Greyhound Industry Reform Panel's 2017 report. The report recommended the separation of the commercial and regulatory functions carried out by Greyhound Racing NSW (GRNSW), with GRNSW retaining the commercial functions and the Commission administering welfare and regulatory functions. (3)

The Greyhound Industry Animal Welfare Committee was established under section 33 of the Act and an inaugural meeting held in May 2018. The Committee was formed to provide advice to the Commission on any matter relating to the welfare of greyhounds, including the formulation of welfare policies and standards. The Committee comprised of a person with expertise in animal welfare or behaviour, the NSW Chief Veterinary Officer or their delegate, and representatives of the NSW RSPCA, the greyhound racing industry and GRNSW. (4)

The Commission became operational on 1 July 2018 with its headquarters located in Bathurst. (5)

The members of the Commission were appointed by the Governor on the joint recommendation of the Minister and the Minister for Primary Industries and included a Chief Commissioner and two other Commissioners with at least one of the Commissioners being a person who has been an Australian lawyer for at least 7 years. The following people were ineligible for membership of the Commission:
(a) a greyhound racing industry participant, or
(b) a proprietor of a greyhound trial track, or
(c) a racing club official or a member of a greyhound racing club, or (d) a director of the Board, or
(e) a member of GRNSW as constituted under the former Act, or
(f) a member of any other body (or body of a class) prescribed by the regulations for the purposes of this section. (6)

The functions of the Commission included:
(i) to control, supervise and regulate (subject to this Act) greyhound racing in the State,
(ii) to initiate, develop and implement policies relating to the welfare of greyhounds,
(iii) to undertake research and investigation into any aspect of the breeding of greyhounds and of greyhound racing generally,
(iv) to consult with animal welfare bodies in developing changes to legislation relating to the welfare of greyhounds,
(v) to provide the Minister with such information, advice or reports as the Minister may request,
(vi) to inform the Minister about any event or matter that may adversely affect the integrity of greyhound racing,
(vii) such other functions as are conferred or imposed on the Commission by or under this or any other Act. (7)

Endnotes
1. Greyhound Welfare and Integrity Commission, Annual Report, 2017-2018, p.6.
2. Greyhound Racing Act 2017 (Act No.13, 2017), s.2; Commencement Proclamation, (2017 No 295), NSW Legislation Website, 30 June 2017.
3. Greyhound Welfare and Integrity Commission website, About, https://www.gwic.nsw.gov.au/about, (accessed 1 December 2022).
4. Greyhound Welfare and Integrity Commission, Annual Report, 2021-2022, p.14.
5. Greyhound Welfare and Integrity Commission, Annual Report, 2017-2018, pp.13-15.
6. Greyhound Racing Act 2017 (Act No.13, 2017), s.5.
7. Ibid. s.12.