The governing physique for greyhound racing in Western Australia has stated it was dedicated to supporting the welfare of each the animals and the game because it defended its monitor report on the second day of a parliamentary inquiry.
Racing and Wagering WA (RWWA) is the state-appointed regulator for thoroughbred, harness and greyhound racing.
It additionally operates the WA TAB, the nation’s solely remaining state-owned betting company.
The inquiry, being run by the Surroundings and Public Affairs Committee, was sparked by a petition of greater than 26,000 signatures calling for the game to be phased out.
There are three greyhound racing tracks in WA, together with Cannington in Perth’s southern suburbs. (ABC Information: Cason Ho)
On Tuesday, RWWA representatives spent greater than three hours answering questions, many raised by animal welfare teams who appeared on the inquiry on Monday.
In his opening remarks, RWWA CEO Ian Edwards stated the company’s function was to “assist the long-term viability of racing in Western Australia”.
“It isn’t, as you heard yesterday, to maximise playing earnings,” he stated.
“Due to the best way wherein racing is funded, wagering revenues are definitely an essential half in racing’s long-term sustainability, however neighborhood confidence and assist depend on the trade upholding the very best requirements of animal welfare and integrity.
“That is why RWWA continues to speculate closely in monitor security, harm prevention, veterinary care, and rehoming initiatives,”
he stated.
There are about 60 greyhound racing tracks working nationwide, with Australia touted because the world’s largest business greyhound racing trade.
However with Tasmania planning to part out greyhound racing by 2029, and New Zealand additionally that possibility, these in opposition to the trade hope the tide is popping.
Greyhound deaths
Since January, seven greyhounds have needed to be put down on WA monitor as a result of accidents sustained throughout a race.
The inquiry heard an extra 4 had been put down off monitor over the identical time interval, elevating the variety of deaths to date this yr to 11.
Animal advocacy teams say round one greyhound dies on a monitor each three weeks. In 2025, there have been 21 on-track deaths in WA, with the Cannington and Mandurah tracks among the many nation’s most harmful.
House owners of rescued greyhounds gathered on Monday forward of the parliamentary inquiry. (ABC Information: Briana Shepherd)
Committee member Jess Beckerling of the Greens requested RWWA if a loss of life each three weeks was acceptable.
“How do you justify an ongoing apply the place you possibly can anticipate such a excessive stage of deaths?” she requested.
RWWA’s head of animal welfare, veterinarian Caroline McMullen, stated the governing physique did all the pieces it may to mitigate in opposition to such deaths.
“We do not simply settle for these deaths as an inevitable consequence,”
she stated.
RWWA chief racing integrity officer Denis Borovica, additionally added: “We do not settle for it, we’re not right here to justify it, we’re right here to manage it and … apply risk-based responses to the dangers which are clearly there.”
Rehoming programme
Animal welfare teams have criticised the RWWA for not being forthcoming with statistics about greyhound deaths that occurred when the animals weren’t racing.
The RWWA confirmed these statistics have been solely included in its annual experiences, and might be made accessible below a freedom of data request.
Dr McMullen additionally spoke at size concerning the RWWA’s rehoming program, Greyhounds as Pets WA (GAP), which is accountable for discovering properties for about 50 per cent of the 600 odd greyhounds who go away the trade annually.
She stated RWWA was working to rehome extra animals, which might ease the burden on the not-for-profit teams who depend on volunteers.
RWWA needed to take a number of questions on discover as a result of they didn’t have the related info in entrance of them, together with how widespread a apply it was to make use of non-disclosure agreements, after an instance was raised in a submission to the inquiry.
Distressing content material kids can see
Amanda Dorn of the Animal Justice Celebration requested a number of questions, together with why races wherein a greyhound was badly injured weren’t uploaded to the Racing WA web site.
“If footage of accidents is faraway from public, which usually does occur as a result of it is too distressing clearly, why are kids allowed trackside?” she put to RWWA.
“In actual fact, there is a playground beside the monitor as nicely.”
A parliamentary inquiry is analyzing the greyhound racing trade in Western Australia. (ABC Information: Robert Koenig-Luck)
After a pause, Dr McMullen stated: “Clearly, it is not one thing that we wish anybody to witness. It is distressing for everyone. The veterinarians, the stewards, the trainers, no person goes to the races anticipating their canine to be injured.
“However it’s the best way that we handle that, that’s essential.”
The inquiry additionally heard from the WA Greyhound Racing Affiliation, which is accountable for offering racing and coaching amenities to the trade.
The affiliation is required to observe the course of Racing and Wagering WA.
