Media Release: NSW AUDITOR-GENERAL TO REVIEW GREYHOUND INDUSTRY FOLLOWING GREENS REQUEST

12 August 2024

Following the Minns’ Labor government’s attempts to sweep the greyhound racing industry’s scandals under the carpet with the announcement last month of a politically-constrained inquiry through the Greyhound Welfare & Integrity Commission (GWIC), Greens Spokesperson for Animal Welfare Abigail Boyd MLC wrote to the Auditor-General requesting a performance review be conducted into GWIC and the effectiveness of the regulatory framework set up in 2017.

The Greens welcome the Auditor-General’s response in agreeing to include a performance audit of the regulation of the greyhound racing industry in the Audit Office’s Annual Work Program, with the audit commencing in early 2025.

The NSW Audit Office’s performance audits examine whether programs and services are delivered efficiently, effectively, economically and in accordance with the law. The scope of the performance audit of GWIC is yet to be published. Under the Government Sector Audit Act 1983, the Auditor-General has broad powers to carry out audits, including to compel the production of documents and require attendance.

Quotes attributable to Abigail Boyd, Greens NSW MP and spokesperson for Animal Welfare:

“The Minns Labor government response to the unfolding scandals plaguing the greyhound racing industry was to set up a politically-constrained inquiry with terms of reference directed at keeping the greyhound racing industry operating in NSW. In doing so, NSW Labor prevented an inquiry that could assess whether the industry is in fact capable of reform and can ever be commercially viable while also meeting the animal welfare standards the community expects.

“The terms of reference of the inquiry Minns set up made no mention of GWIC, yet GWIC’s powers and structures have been proven inadequate in regulating the greyhound racing industry, allowing extreme animal cruelty and neglect to go unaddressed for years.

“Thankfully, the Auditor-General has agreed to step in and inquire into whether the regulatory regime set up in 2017 has been at all effective in stamping out the behaviours of the industry that led to it being banned in 2016.

“Unlike the inquiry set up by NSW Labor through GWIC, the results of which are not required to be made public, the Auditor-General’s report will be delivered directly to Parliament when complete, regardless of how politically inconvenient it may be at the time.

“The NSW Labor government appears oblivious to the levels of community outrage when it comes to the extreme animal cruelty and criminal behaviour occurring in the greyhound racing industry in NSW. The Greens will never accept a cover up, and will continue to use all means at our disposal to hold the Government to account for decisions made on their watch.”

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Media Release: NSW AUDITOR-GENERAL TO REVIEW GREYHOUND INDUSTRY FOLLOWING GREENS REQUEST

A UNIVERSAL WELLBEING PAYMENT FOR NSW

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