as its first priority and has Additional recommendations are appropriate investigative provided, in the Chapter 4, relating to establishing a process for more rigorous and executive powers is a fundamental investigation of complaints, including component of the series of developments needed to rebuild public surveillance, and providing a power to require approval, from GRV, for an confidence. owner or person in charge of a greyhound to dispose of a An industry-funded, statutory greyhound carcass following death with Greyhound Inspectorate should be the option of GRV requiring that an established to regulate animal welfare autopsy in the greyhound industry. Further work be performed in a number of cases to will be required to determine how this is better understand end of life best achieved. outcomes. The Greyhound Inspectorate should become responsible for the registration, inspection and audit of all premises involved in greyhound breeding, rearing, breaking-in, Inspectorate bullrings, boarding and training. As a result, local government should no longer be There is potential for a real or perceived responsible for greyhound DABs under the conflict of interest between the DAA. aspirations of GRV to promote the industry and its responsibility to deliver It will be critical that the Greyhound strong regulation of animal welfare. The Inspectorate develops a DAA and continued POCTAA compliance strategy and future of the industry depends on build inter-agency relationships to demonstrating and providing ensure strong liaison, assistance and confidence in good animal welfare referral outcomes. of potential animal welfare offences. Good regulatory practice requires a degree of separation of the regulatory authority from industry interests. between Experience in other fields demonstrates that the provision of education and agencies information alone does not reduce public anxiety and distrust unless there is also The complexity of the current regulatory effective and clear structural changes to framework, lack of powers, poor address the underlying concern. interagency coordination, and confusion as to which agency has the primary role to While the Review is of the view that the regulate racing greyhounds and greyhound recommendations to enhance the powers premises, has resulted in serious gaps and accountabilities of inspectors will greatly in the animal welfare compliance enhance the capability of the greyhound regime. inspectors to operate effectively, the introduction of a high quality authority (the The Review proposes a new model Greyhound Inspectorate) which manifestly for agency accountability: one which has animal welfare in the greyhound industry
Additional recommendations are provided, in the Chapter 4, relating to establishing a process for more rigorous investigation of complaints, including surveillance, and providing a power to require approval, from GRV, for an owner or person in charge of a greyhound to dispose of a greyhound carcass following death with the option of GRV requiring that an autopsy be performed in a number of cases to better understand end of life outcomes. Inspectorate There is potential for a real or perceived conflict of interest between the aspirations of GRV to promote the industry and its responsibility to deliver strong regulation of animal welfare. The continued future of the industry depends on demonstrating and providing confidence in good animal welfare outcomes. Good regulatory practice requires a degree of separation of the regulatory authority from industry interests. Experience in other fields demonstrates that the provision of education and information alone does not reduce public anxiety and distrust unless there is also effective and clear structural changes to address the underlying concern. While the Review is of the view that the recommendations to enhance the powers and accountabilities of inspectors will greatly enhance the capability of the greyhound inspectors to operate effectively, the introduction of a high quality authority (the Greyhound Inspectorate) which manifestly has animal welfare in the greyhound industry as its first priority and has appropriate investigative and executive powers is a fundamental component of the series of developments needed to rebuild public confidence. An industry-funded, statutory Greyhound Inspectorate should be established to regulate animal welfare in the greyhound industry. Further work will be required to determine how this is best achieved. The Greyhound Inspectorate should become responsible for the registration, inspection and audit of all premises involved in greyhound breeding, rearing, breaking-in, bullrings, boarding and training. As a result, local government should no longer be responsible for greyhound DABs under the DAA. It will be critical that the Greyhound Inspectorate develops a DAA and POCTAA compliance strategy and build inter-agency relationships to ensure strong liaison, assistance and referral of potential animal welfare offences. between agencies The complexity of the current regulatory framework, lack of powers, poor interagency coordination, and confusion as to which agency has the primary role to regulate racing greyhounds and greyhound premises, has resulted in serious gaps in the animal welfare compliance regime. The Review proposes a new model for agency accountability: one which
GreyhoundReport_final_12Nov2015_v9.docx