Australian greyhound followers are stunned following the announcement that greyhound racing in New South Wales will be banned from July 1 2017

A statement from the state’s control body reads:

The greyhound racing industry is devastated by today’s decision by the NSW Government to shut down the sport in NSW.

Around our state there are many thousands of responsible participants who treat their greyhounds like family who are involved in the greyhound racing industry either through training, racing or supporting the sport.

These people were as dismayed as others by the exposure of completely unacceptable and inhumane practices within greyhound racing. That is why they supported the significant reforms made by Greyhound Racing NSW (GRNSW) over the last 12 months.

In the past 16 months, GRNSW has transformed the organisation and regulation of the industry to significantly improve animal welfare and supervision of the industry. 

GRNSW had taken decisive action as it strived to recover community trust and believed that its reforms and strategic direction could have transformed the sport into a stronger sustainable one in which animal welfare and integrity were fundamental to a vibrant future. The industry wanted to do more and was committed in doing so.

The NSW Government, after receiving the Report of the Special Commission of Inquiry, has come to a different conclusion, one that will rock industry participants and associated communities around our state, as well as the hardworking GRNSW team and its partners who have been working tirelessly to improve the industry. 

GRNSW would like to reiterate that it fully cooperated with the Special Commission of Inquiry.

GRNSW will continue to tirelessly advocate for its members and carry on to ensure greyhound racing industry participants receive the support they need as the industry winds down

Given today’s announcement, GRNSW has made the decision to suspend greyhound racing for the next seven days beginning with immediate effect. 

Today is an extremely sad day for the NSW greyhound racing industry and the people involved in it.

The news was reported by TV broadcaster ABC as follows