Animal welfare group says proposed NT Racing and Wagering changes fail to address core issues in greyhound racing

Greyhound welfare groups have slammed a proposed Territory gambling law overhaul, saying it fails to address abuse on the tracks.

Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds spokeswoman Fiona Chisholm said regulation without enforcement and public data reporting was “pointless”.

Territory greyhounds are born to race but are doomed to die according to animal welfare groups who say a legislative overhaul fails to address the core issues in the racing industry.

Chief Minister Eva Lawler tabled the Racing and Wagering Act 2024 two weeks ago, promising that a new Racing commission and Director would allow for greater oversight of the gambling industry and increased penalties for dodgy actors.

“Of importance is the inclusion that the welfare of the animals involved in the racing industries, the thoroughbreds and greyhounds, becomes an objective of the new act,” she said.

“Ensuring the most important element of the racing industries are treated appropriately.”

The bill has been backed by major industry players, despite heavy criticism from anti-gambling experts.

Darwin Greyhound Association manager Greg De Lanty said he supported it and expected all members to follow the new rules once it passed.

“We will continue to work with the government in the best interests of the racing industry and expect our trainers, members and supporters to comply with the new act,” Mr De Lanty said.

But Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds spokeswoman Fiona Chisholm said regulation without enforcement and public data reporting was “pointless”.

An NT investigation into the Darwin Greyhound Association in 2021 found a third of the dogs' kennels were non-compliant with minimum size requirements.

Ms Chisholm said the proposed bill failed to address key issues exposed in a 2021 report into the NT greyhound industry, which found the regulator the NT Racing Commission was “inadequate” to ensure best practice animal welfare standards.

The investigation into the Darwin Greyhound Association found there was little oversight by the NTRC — with no investigations, decisions or penalties over greyhound treatment in its 14 year history.

The 2021 report said the NTRC spent the majority of its time “determining gambling disputes between bookmakers and their clientele”.

A NT government spokeswoman said the bill would remove some administrative tasks from the NTRC which “will give the new Commission increased time to take proactive action on all matters under their purview”.

An NT investigation into the Darwin Greyhound Association in 2021 found a third of the dogs' kennels were non-compliant with minimum size requirements.

She said the new bill contained contaied specific provisions to deal with conflicts of interest for Racing and Wagering Commission members, wagering inspectors and the Racing Appeals Tribunal members.

Mr De Lanty added that the DGA was committed to working closely with the regulator the NTRC and “endeavour to enhance a positive relationship between the two parties”.

But Ms Chisholm said the weak oversight was not addressed by the proposed bill, nor was there a complete separation between “commercial functions and animal welfare and integrity”.

“Without this separation, the industry will continue to prioritise profit over greyhound welfare,” Mr Chisolm said.

An NT investigation into the Darwin Greyhound Association in 2021 found a third of the dogs' kennels were non-compliant with minimum size requirements.

She said without oversight of the ‘birth to death tracking’ of the racing animals in the Territory “these dogs can easily disappear”.

The 2021 report said there was an “unacceptably high” euthanasia rate, a disproportionate injury rate with retired racers being surrendered to animal welfare groups in “poor condition”.

It said a single clinic had put down 266 greyhounds since 2006, with an average year seeing 17 racing dogs being euthanised.

An NT investigation into the Darwin Greyhound Association in 2021 found a third of the dogs' kennels were non-compliant with minimum size requirements.

While the expected lifespan of a greyhound is 12 to 15 years, an analysis of 36 greyhound’s ‘retirement forms’ found the majority of those killed were between two and four years old.

Nearly 60 per cent of those dogs were put down due to injuries, with veterinary notes describing them as “extremely dehydrated and lethargic”, ”acutely unwell and in distress” while another had an “acute collapse” before they were euthanised.

The DGA has committed to going “to the next level in regards to the importance and welfare of our greyhounds” with a promise to fully implement all of the reports recommendations, while the NTRC released its Welfare of Racing Greyhounds Policy in April 2022.

A NT government spokeswoman said 71 per cent of the report’s recommendations have been completed as of November 2023.