Greyhound Racing Regulation 2019

Integrity / Greyhound Racing Regulation 2019

The NSW Government has introduced new regulations for the greyhound racing industry, effective 1 September 2019. These new regulations are part of the Greyhound Racing Regulation 2019,

The new regulations are another step in delivering the Government’s commitment to ensuring a sustainable greyhound racing industry based on high standards of animal welfare and integrity, as recommended in the Greyhound Industry Reform Panel report.

The changes enable the Commission to progress the next phase of the enhanced registration framework described in that report.

If you are a new type of participant under the enhanced framework, you become automatically registered on 1 September 2019 but you must apply to the Commission before 31 December 2019 if you want to continue your registration of any new registration type. If you apply before 31 December 2019, you remain registered while your application is processed.

New participant types include greyhound health assistant, greyhound promoter, greyhound trial track proprietor, greyhound race official and greyhound artificial insemination technician.

All current participant registrations that were renewed by 1 September 2019 continue in force until 30 June 2020 unless a registration is suspended or cancelled or a participant is disqualified.

Information about how the new framework applies to the new participant types will be shared with industry stakeholders and affected participants in the coming months. The Commission will manage the implementation process in a way that eases the transition for participants as much as possible.

In developing this Regulation, the Government considered submissions it received on a ‘public consultation draft’ of the Regulation and a regulatory impact statement which assessed the net impacts.

Greyhound Racing Regulation 2019 overview flyer

Main changes and impact on participants

NEW REGULATION	KEY CHANGES	IMMEDIATE IMPACT ON PARTICIPANTS
Establishes a framework for the registration of greyhounds, industry participants, greyhound racing clubs and greyhound trial tracks	Greyhounds, participants and trial tracks have traditionally been registered under the Rules of Greyhound Racing. The Regulation enables the Commission to register greyhounds, participants and trial tracks through regulations under the Greyhound Racing Act 2017.	No significant impact for most participants. If you were a registered participant before 1 September 2019, your registration continues in force until 30 June 2020 unless it is suspended or cancelled or you are disqualified. If you are a new type of participant, you must lodge a registration application with the Commission before 31 December 2019. You can continue your current involvement in the industry while your application is processed. From September 2019, the Commission will inform affected participants about the process for continuing their registration.
Creates new types of ‘greyhound racing industry participant’	From 1 September, the new Regulation allows the Commission to implement an enhanced registration framework covering a broader range of people involved in the greyhound racing industry. This includes people who: perform health services on a greyhound – such as massage therapy, acupuncture, non-invasive detection and/or chiropractic treatment offer or invite applications to own a greyhound own, lease or occupy a greyhound trial track. Also, the new Regulation clarifies registration types for people who: officiate at a greyhound race or trial as a race starter, judge, lure operator or kennelling assistant artificially inseminate a greyhound	If you performed any of these activities before 1 September 2019, you must lodge your application to become registered before 31 December 2019. You can continue your current involvement in the industry while your application is processed by the Commission. If you do not apply before 31 December 2019, action can be taken against you if you continue to perform these activities without being registered. The Commission will inform people covered by these new types about what they need to do to apply for ongoing registration.
Clarifies and defines reporting obligations on participants	Participants must notify the Commission and provide details: Within 14 days of a change to the participant’s name, address or contact details when a greyhound is whelped a change in the ownership of a greyhound when a greyhound is inseminated (whether naturally or artificially) when a greyhound ceases to be a greyhound for which the Commission is responsible (e.g. when the greyhound is registered on the NSW Pet Registry) Within 7 days if they are charged with an animal cruelty offence under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979 or an indictable offence under another law (an ‘indicatable offence’ means any offence for which a person can be imprisoned for more than two years) Within 3 days of a change in the premises at which a greyhound is ordinarily kept Within 2 days of the death of a greyhound.	No significant impact as these requirements are already part of the Greyhound Racing Rules or GWIC policies, except that participants are now required to notify the Commission if they are charged with an animal cruelty offence. The Commission is facilitating compliance with notification obligations by updating its application and other forms.
Requires the Commission to maintain registers for greyhounds, industry participants and trial tracks	The Commission will maintain registers of greyhounds, participants and trial tracks as part of its records database. Registers are important for linking greyhounds to participants and for greyhound tracking purposes.	No significant impact. Registers support the Commission’s regulatory role by recording key details of greyhounds, greyhound racing industry participants and greyhound trial tracks. Registers contain basic information that participants have supplied as part of an application for registration – for example registration name, address, greyhound identification details. Any information GWIC holds relating to the financial affairs of participants will not be included on any register or disclosed to a third party. Information in the registers may only be provided on a ‘request only’ basis to GRNSW, racing controlling bodies in other jurisdictions, police and local councils for a proper purpose.
Creates ‘restricted access areas’ at racecourses and trial tracks	It will be an offence for an unregistered participant or an unauthorised person to enter or be present in a restricted access area at racecourses and trial tracks, provided the area is signposted as a restricted access area. The Commission has designed a 'restricted access area' sign for race clubs to install at each point of entry to a restricted access area.	Only registered participants, and persons authorised by the racing club, can enter a ‘restricted access area’.
Preserves the current Rules of Greyhound Racing	The Rules of Greyhound Racing now remain in force until 30 June 2020, unless amended or replaced sooner.	No direct impact on participants.
Strengthens annual reporting requirements for the Commission	The Regulation enhances annual reporting obligations by requiring the Commission to report on key indicators. From 2020, the Commission must report on the number of registered greyhounds, participants and trial tracks; a summary of the injuries to greyhounds while racing; disciplinary action against participants and trial tracks; inquiries conducted by the Commission; and internal reviews of Commission decisions.	No direct impact on participants. The Commission already publishes much of the information specified in the Regulation.
Creates new penalty infringement notice (PIN) offences and resets penalty amounts for some offences	The Regulation introduces a greater range of enforcement options to allow penalty infringement notices (PINs) as an alternative to or in addition to addressing non compliance with rules and requirements. View more information on PINs here.	Broadens the suite of enforcement options to address non-compliance. The Commission will develop publicly available guidelines to communicate how the Commission will address non-compliance and enforcement.