Call for Parliamentary Inquiry into Greyhound Racing NSW
21st November 2025
Media Release – Call for Parliamentary Inquiry into GRNSW
The Member for Barwon, Roy Butler, is calling for any decision to close country greyhound tracks to be put on hold pending a parliamentary inquiry into Greyhound Racing NSW (GRNSW).
GRNSW has released an Optimisation Report that recommends closing 15 tracks in country NSW, including Coonamble and Broken Hill in the Barwon electorate.
Last night, Mr Butler made a Private Members’ Statement to NSW Parliament calling for the parliamentary inquiry, with the terms of reference including:
- The objectives of GRNSW and their suitability
- Equity of access to GRNSW funds for regional clubs
- The support offered by GRNSW to smaller regional track facilities
- The role and objectives of the Greyhound Welfare Integrity Commission (GWIC)
- Greyhound welfare measures including rehoming programs
- Financial decisions of GRNSW including contract employment arrangements.
Mr Butler has also flagged the need to amend the ‘objectives’ of GRNSW to include consideration of the social and cultural role the sport plays in country NSW.
“Country areas lack the social and recreational opportunities that our metropolitan and coastal cousins have,” said Mr Butler. “Greyhound racing provides family-friendly entertainment and builds social connections in many country communities.”
“GRNSW should be obliged to consider this social and cultural role while administering the sport, but the organisation’s ‘objectives’ are instead focused on commercial outcomes.
“The criteria of GRNSW’s Optimisation Report were designed so that the final report recommended closing country racetracks to maximise gambling profits.
“But a proportion of gambling revenue should be directed towards the continuation of greyhound racing in country communities,” said Mr Butler.