The clock has officially run out for South Australia's greyhound racing industry, marking the end of a high-stakes two-year grace period to overhaul animal welfare standards or face a permanent shutdown.

A Sport on the Brink

The strict deadline was triggered in late 2023 following a series of shocking revelations exposing the physical abuse of greyhounds on local training properties. The public outcry prompted the state government to launch an independent inquiry, led by former Victorian Police Commissioner Graham Ashton, to investigate systemic failures within the sport.

When the Ashton Inquiry handed down 87 sweeping recommendations in December 2023, Premier Peter Malinauskas issued an uncompromising ultimatum. The industry was given exactly two years to clean up its act or risk losing its social license and the state support required to operate.

Monitoring Progress and Integrity

To ensure the sport met these rigorous demands, former sports integrity expert and police officer Sal Perna was appointed as the independent inspector for greyhound racing reform in mid-2024. Tasked with overseeing the implementation of the reforms, Mr. Perna has been delivering regular quarterly updates on the industry’s compliance.

By April, Mr. Perna verified that 60 of the 87 recommendations had been completed. However, several critical reforms—including the proper recording and publication of track injuries and the enforcement of minimum housing space requirements—remained unresolved as the final deadline approached.

Industry Claims Success Amid Skepticism

As the deadline passed this month, Greyhound Racing SA (GRSA) announced that it had successfully addressed all 87 recommendations. According to GRSA Chief Executive Brenton Scott, the entire racing community—including breeders, owners, and trainers—collaborated to implement the final changes, which include upgraded kennel sizes and a comprehensive greyhound traceability system.

"Animal welfare is our highest priority," Mr. Scott said. "We will work to ensure our greyhounds are provided with the utmost care from whelping to racing and retirement in a loving home."

However, animal welfare advocates remain highly skeptical of the industry's eleventh-hour compliance. Elle Trahair, spokesperson for the Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds, argued that delaying key measures proves that welfare is not the industry's primary concern.

"Key measures such as breeding caps and upgrades to kennel sizes were left to the very last minute, which tells us that this is not being taken seriously," Ms. Trahair said. She asserted that the industry remains focused on generating gambling revenue rather than guaranteeing the safety of the animals.

What Lies Ahead

The state government is now waiting for the final verdict. Acting Premier Kyam Maher confirmed that Mr. Perna is currently reviewing the industry's submissions and is expected to deliver his final report in the coming months.

"The greyhound industry reform inspector is currently looking at the reforms that have been suggested, and in the coming months, we will have a report," Mr. Maher said, adding that the findings will be made public once received by the government.