Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds calls for end to taxpayer funding after recent deaths

The Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds says there is no such thing as safe racing. (Supplied: Greyhound Racing Victoria)

A new report by a greyhound lobby group is urging the Victorian government to urgently reform racing regulations and cease providing taxpayer funds to the industry.

The Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds has today published a report entitled, Current state of greyhound racing regulations.

“A national survey on attitudes towards dog racing revealed that 69 per cent of Australians oppose the use of taxpayer funds to prop up the greyhound racing industry,” the report said.

It urged state and territory governments to “stop diverting funds from education, healthcare, and employment programs”.

The survey sampled 804 people over 18 at random, with interviews apportioned demographically and geographically, based on population data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

The report makes 13 recommendations, including overhauling regulatory requirements by legislating an independent authority, and increasing transparency and access to information published by Greyhound Racing Victoria (GRV).

The coalition’s Victorian director Joanne Lee said the report revealed that more needed to be done to improve transparency in the racing industry.

“The greyhound racing industry receives millions of taxpayer dollars [that] many of the public are unaware of,” she said.

“The government continues to push the spin that the greyhound racing industry delivers huge economic benefits to the community and to Victoria but we argue, and our research finds, that this is actually not the case.

“We believe the industry should stand on its own two feet and not be gifted millions of taxpayer dollars.”

Government funding less than 2pc

The coalition has found that between November 2014 and June 2022, the government provided $23.7 million in grants to the greyhound racing industry through the Victorian Racing Industry Fund (VRIF).

But GRV argues the sector is not entirely dependent on taxpayers’ money.

Chief executive Stuart Laing said more than 98 per cent of GRV’s revenue was generated via fees and charges paid by wagering operators, media rights, and other commercial arrangements.

“Some government grants are received from the VRIF for racing infrastructure improvements, greyhound welfare related initiatives, and other approved projects,” Mr Laing said.

“In the 2022/23 financial year, GRV received VRIF funding of $2.6 million.

“This represents less than 2 per cent of GRV’s total revenue of $149 million for the year.”

Fatality rate ‘decreasing’

In 2021, the state government contributed $3 million to develop a greyhound track in Traralgon — the site of nine dog deaths since opening in 2022.

GRV spent about $800,000 to upgrade a track in Horsham in 2017, aiming to reduce incidents and increase dog safety.

Since 2020, 11 dogs have died at the track, with the most recent fatality occurring earlier this month.

On November 14, a greyhound fractured its leg after a fall on the first turn and was later euthanased.

Despite this, Mr Laing said the fatality rate was decreasing.

“The data also shows that, following upgrades to the Horsham and Traralgon tracks, fatality and injury rates have reduced,” he said.

In contrast, the report released this morning said there was no such thing as a “safe dog racing track”.

“Attempts by the industry to build ‘safe’ tracks have failed,” it said.

Straight tracks ‘safest’

In 2017, a major study by the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) examined safety on greyhound tracks across Australia and called for the greyhound racing industry to “reconsider their aversion to straight tracks and consider developing purpose-built straight tracks”.

GRV has used the UTS research to improve safety at tracks across the state.

But the Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds said straight tracks were not safe either.

“The evidence shows that greyhounds continue to be injured and killed on all track designs currently in operation, including straight tracks,” the report said.

Jane, whose real name has been withheld for privacy, is a former greyhound trainer of three decades and says if the tracks bend, it creates physical stress for the dogs.

“Straight tracking is the safest way of racing greyhounds because as long as they’re running through the lure and [keeping] their lines they don’t touch each other as much,” she said.

“But visually, straight track racing is hard because where do you put people to watch the race?

“There is no safe way.”

Racing injuries, deaths, ‘multi-factorial’

Mr Laing said fatalities and serious injuries in racing were rare.

“The causes [of injuries and deaths] are multi-factorial and unique to each situation, and cannot be solely attributable to the track design, shape, or surface,” he said.

A Victorian government spokesperson said the government would continue to support GRV to improve greyhound welfare.

“Animal cruelty is not acceptable and we have a clear expectation that GRV will deliver safe racing conditions at each of its venues, and the welfare of racing greyhounds will always be a priority,” the spokesperson said.

“We are ensuring that the Victorian racing industry treats all animals with care and promotes the welfare of racing animals both during their career and in retirement.”