In every state, greyhound racing fails to meet animal welfare standards.
The ongoing high number of deaths and injuries show that racetracks are dangerous and can never be made safe. Dogs are killed at the track with many more removed from the track with catastrophic injuries and killed later. Millions of taxpayer dollars have been wasted trying to make tracks safe, with dogs still being killed and injured after upgrades.
The industry is breeding far too many dogs and rehoming programs are failing. Over 1700 greyhounds were euthanased within the industry in FY24 — the highest national toll since 2019.
Each state also has its unique way of failing greyhounds
NSW has the highest injury rate in Australasia, twice the rate that led to the New Zealand ban. Victoria kills more dogs on its tracks than any other state. Queensland’s new racing complex, funded with $44m of taxpayer money, has already killed over 20 dogs since it opened in mid 2025, and is rejected by the industry itself.
Inquiries into the industry such as the NSW Drake Inquiry and the Ashton Inquiry in SA exposed an industry that is cruel, corrupt and financially unsustainable. The WA state government also launched an inquiry into greyhound after a petition calling for an end to greyhound racing gathered 26,000 signatures. To learn more about the WA greyhound racing industry and greyhound advocacy in that state please visit the website of our wonderful allies Free the Hounds.
In 2025, the Tasmania announced the phase-out of greyhound racing by 2029 with Premier Jeremy Rockliff citing animal welfare concerns and community expectations.
A statewide survey conducted by EMRS found that “Tasmanians overwhelmingly back the Liberal Government’s announced greyhound racing ban“. According to their survey, 74 per cent of Tasmanians support the ban, and just 14 percent oppose it, with 12 percent undecided. EMRS is recognised as having the strongest record in Tasmanian political polling.
State governments continue to mislead their communities by repeating economic numbers provided by the industry to support their funding. State governments are spending millions in public money on greyhound racing every year. As the leading economist Saul Eslake stated, it is time for state governments to stop “throwing good money after bad”. That is money that should be spent on housing, healthcare and schools.
It is time that every state followed the lead of Tasmania and phase-out this cruel, unreformable and unsustainable industry.
NSW – the state of shame and sorrow
Queensland – the killing state for greyhounds
Justice for SA greyhounds
Phase-out of Tasmanian greyhound racing
