Northern Territory Racing Commission releases final report into Darwin Greyhound Association

A sweeping report has found serious flaws in the way greyhounds are treated in the Northern Territory, with the Darwin Greyhound Association urged to do more.

DARWIN’S only greyhound racing association says it is fully in favour of recommendations put forward by a sweeping review of the Northern Territory’s greyhound industry.

The final report into the Territory’s industry, prepared for the NT Racing Commission, was released on Tuesday with 60 recommendations, including for the establishment of an industry-funded greyhound rehoming organisation.

Among its findings was that the Darwin Greyhound Association had not complied with the Associations Act, including failing to appoint a secretary and not having a register of conflicts of interest.

The report also found the industry “does not have adequate policies and procedures in place to ensure best practice animal welfare standards are being adhered to”.

Dogs at the Winnellie dog park, which is the Territory’s only greyhound racing facility. Picture: File.

It found a national Greyhounds Welfare Strategy supposed to be implemented in 2017 “has not been fully implemented in (the Northern Territory)”, and urged the Racing Commission to fully implement it “as a matter of priority”.

That includes tracking of greyhounds through their lives to ensure they are housed and retired “in a manner which maximises welfare”.

The report found the some of the Darwin Greyhound Association’s (DGA) kennels in Winellie were non-compliant.

A good boy. Picture Glenn Hampson

The DGA operates the only greyhound track in the NT.

DGA president Robbie Brennan said his organisation intended to fully implement the findings of the report.

But Mr Brennan said the failings of the DGA had been due to the rapid growth of the industry.

The Darwin Greyhound Association’s revenues doubled to $2.45m between 2016-17 and 2019-20, largely due to revenue from broadcasting, according to the report.

“We have grown pretty quickly and probably haven’t kept up to speed with protocols and the requirements of the constitutions and the Association Act,” Mr Brennan said.

He said the organisation had acknowledged increased community expectations around animal welfare, and was working with dog owners to cut down on rates of euthanasia.

A planned race on Sunday will not go ahead due to planned Cracker Night celebration.

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