The long-overdue Greyhound Industry Reform Inspector (GIRI), the recently appointed Mr Sal Perna AM, will NOT get the expanded powers he needs to oversee much-needed animal welfare reforms after a series of Greens’ amendments to the Greyhound Industry Reform Inspector Bill 2024 were voted down in the Parliament yesterday.
Greens’ Parliamentary Co-Leader and Animal Welfare Portfolio holder Tammy Franks MLC moved the amendments in the Legislative Council late yesterday.
“Sadly, the GIRI did NOT get the powers he really needed to properly clean up the dog’s breakfast that is the state of Greyhound racing in SA,” Ms Franks explained.
“The go-slow Government and the Opposition have shown they’re backing Greyhound Racing SA (GRSA) ahead of the welfare of thousands of greyhounds. Together they combined to kill off the Greens’ push to ensure the GIRI’s oversight of this deadly industry was as effective and transparent as possible”, she said.
The Greens’ amendments would’ve strengthened the powers of the GIRI across the board and increased the transparency and efficacy of the role.
The GIRI’s ability to oversee the industry and judge the true progress of animal welfare reforms would have been enhanced with GRSA being obliged to provide regular Animal Welfare reports detailing all details of greyhound deaths or injuries, incidents or complaints, rehoming issues, or any other contravention of the Local Rules of Greyhound Racing 2022).
A Greyhound Racing Reforms Advisory Group would have been formalised as a statutory body providing professional advice to the GIRI regarding reform progress and would have had dedicated animal welfare and community representation from representatives from the Coalition for Protection of Greyhounds (CPG) and the RSPCA, rather than just industry-linked figures.
Additional reporting requirements would have required regular progress reports and stopped animal welfare investigations disappearing without a trace - sadly often along with the dogs themselves, as the GIRI would be required to be consulted before any welfare-related investigation was to be closed without charges. Enabling the GIRI’s to operate across jurisdictions would’ve also ensured legal technicalities or cross-border issues wouldn’t have impeded any investigations.
“Finally, GRSA would have been subject to Freedom on Information (FOI) disclosures too – something they’ve long actively resisted, despite my numerous challenges” Ms Franks concluded.