The Ashton Inquiry into Greyhound Racing SA, 2024

An independent inquiry into South Australia’s greyhound racing industry was announced by Premier Peter Malinauskas in August 2023.

This followed the release of drone footage showing puppies and adult greyhounds being punched and kicked by an SA trainer. In a separate incident in June, three trainers were given lifetime bans over a live baiting scandal.

The inquiry, led by former Victorian Police Commissioner Graham Ashton, found systemic and widespread welfare and governance issues. The Ashton Report made 87 recommendations across all areas of Greyhound Racing SA including animal welfare, governance, data tracking and transparency, and the need for independent oversight.

With regard to greyhound welfare, the report states, “Animal welfare is the primary issue affecting the ongoing viability of greyhound racing in South Australia. The inquiry received 592 submissions from individuals and lobby groups primarily advocating that greyhound racing be discontinued based on animal mistreatment.”

The report highlighted numerous greyhound welfare issues including overbreeding, failed rehoming, unnecessary euthanasia, high track deaths and injuries, and the inadequate housing, treatment and socialisation of greyhounds.

The report  included a recommendation to establish a Greyhound Industry Reform Inspector (GIRI) to ensure the recommendations were implemented. As  the SA Government took months to fill this position, the GIRI didn’t commence until July 2024. This meant the greyhound racing industry had an extra six months without oversight.

As a result of the report, Greyhound Racing SA was given two years to “clean up its act” or face the risk of no longer operating in South Australia. The two year deadline to implement the Ashton Report recommendations is 8 July 2026.

As of 7 January 2025, 49 of the 87 Ashton Report recommendations were verified as completed by the GIRI.

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