Following residents expressing concerns regarding the greyhound racing industry, our office made initial enquiries with the Queensland Minister for Racing who provided below in response:
The Queensland Government takes animal welfare matters very seriously and is committed to ensuring that all racing animals are afforded high standards of care. That is why the current Labor Government commissioned the 2015 Queensland Greyhound Racing Industry Commission of Inquiry (the MacSporran Inquiry), which led to nation-leading reforms that have delivered higher standards of animal welfare and integrity across the industry.
Acts of animal cruelty will not be tolerated, and offenders will be pursued through the appropriate channels. If you have any information about animal welfare concerns in the racing industry in Queensland, please report them to the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission (QRIC) through its Report Something portal so it can be properly investigated.
QRIC works proactively with industry to reduce instances of non-compliance with the high animal welfare standards that are expected from racing participants. In 2022–23, QRIC stewards conducted 1,387 stable and kennel inspections across Queensland, which includes non-race day and race day inspections. This was an increase from the 1,202 inspections completed in 2021–22.
Any death or injury of a racing animal is a concern. When an injury or death occurs, the contributing factors that lead to each incident are investigated QRIC and Racing Queensland (RQ) to determine appropriate mitigation strategies through the Greyhound Racing Injury Working Group.
RQ administers two greyhound care schemes—the Race Meeting Injury Scheme, which provides financial support for veterinary treatment and rehabilitation for greyhounds injured during an event; and the Retirement Readiness Scheme, which assists participants to prepare greyhounds for retirement as pets.
In 2023 RQ applied a 1 percent levy on greyhound prize money (increasing to 5 per cent on races offering prize money of $250,000 and above) to further support its greyhound care initiatives. The levy on greyhound prize money brings the greyhound code in line with Queensland’s equine codes.
Owners have several avenues to retire their racing greyhounds, including through QRIC’s Greyhound Adoption Program (GAP), which rehomed 299 greyhounds in 2022-23.
The Government also recognises the racing industry’s contribution to the Queensland economy, and the important role it plays in the social fabric of the State, particularly in regional communities. Greyhound racing generated more than $301 million in economic value to the State in 2021-22 and supported more than 2,000 full-time equivalent jobs and involves nearly 8,000 individuals as employees, participants or volunteers.
Regarding the stated 299 greyhounds rehomed, Sandy is following up on how many per year are bred, race and disappear from the tracks and how it is monitored. In addition, is the Queensland Government encouraging straight tracks as opposed to round or lap tracks as residents have raised.
We are also considering this for a question in our next annual Noosa MP Community Survey. Further feedback from Noosa Electorate residents is always welcomed on 5319 3100 or via noosa@parliament.qld.gov.au.
Further Information
Direct advocacy regarding this can be directed to the Queensland Minister for Racing via racing@ministerial.qld.gov.au. Please cc our office in via noosa@parliament.qld.gov.au and forward any response you receive to us.
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