What is your legacy, Minister?

Today in Budget Estimates, Abigail grilled the Minister for Gaming and Racing on the abhorrent greyhound racing industry, pressing for answers on when the long-awaited Drake Report will be released, and highlighting NSW Labor’s legacy of backing the gambling lobby and a cruel, corrupt industry built on animal abuse.

Ms ABIGAIL BOYD: I don't know if you are aware, Minister, that there's an art exhibition from the artist Elliott Fox that has been running in Surry Hills, which captures this duality between greyhounds as sentient animals and the cruelty and corruption of the racing industry. There's a painting that has got you on it. Are you aware of this?

Mr DAVID HARRIS (Minister for Gaming and Racing) : Absolutely not, no...

Ms ABIGAIL BOYD: By leave, I'm happy to table it so that you can see.

Document tabled.

Ms ABIGAIL BOYD: I've got lots of papers, so you can all see. The picture is called History Won't Be Kind / Minister, and it's asking what your legacy is. In the context of the last two years that you've been responsible for the greyhound racing industry, given the number of scandals—we're now seeing live baiting allegations. We're
seeing all sorts of things coming back. The head of GWIC has now hopped to the commercial arm of the industry. We've seen so many dogs dying, and everything else is happening. What is your legacy when it comes to greyhounds in this State?

Mr DAVID HARRIS: I understand those people who want to see the industry closed down. Other than closing down the industry, nothing will ever be enough. But what I can say is that... the Government's policy is that greyhound racing will continue in New South Wales...

Ms ABIGAIL BOYD: When will you release the Drake report?

Mr DAVID HARRIS: Our aim is to release the Drake report as quickly as we possibly can. There are a number of issues that need to be considered by Cabinet. As soon as they are considered, that report will be released in full.

Ms ABIGAIL BOYD: When will that be?

Mr DAVID HARRIS: I will point out that the transcripts and the submissions are already publicly available online.

Ms ABIGAIL BOYD: Yes, we know. But, in terms of the Drake report, how many versions of that report did you receive?

Mr DAVID HARRIS: I only received the one—the final version. But I would like to congratulate Ms Drake, while she's here at the back... She has done an amazing job. It is very, very thorough. It is a large document with many, many good recommendations.

Ms ABIGAIL BOYD: If we could all see it, we would be able to comment on that as well.

Mr DAVID HARRIS: We've committed that we'll do that as quickly as we can.

Ms ABIGAIL BOYD: Are we talking a month, three months, a year? What are we talking?

Mr DAVID HARRIS: It has to go through the Cabinet process.

Ms ABIGAIL BOYD: So a month?

Mr DAVID HARRIS: Hopefully it will be sooner rather than later.

26 August 2025

Read the full transcript here.

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What is your legacy, Minister?

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