While many Australians are against the practice of greyhound racing due to the high number of on track deaths, the animal welfare issues with housing and racing greyhounds and the lack of transparency surrounding their rehoming, greyhound racing is still legal across Australia. 

Greyhound racing receives financial support from all state governments and they commonly promote the industry as a financially viable industry that supports the economy, despite its reliance on tax-payer sourced funds to continue operating. Shockingly, greyhound racing is promoted as a 'family friendly' activity, exposing and desensitising the next generation to gambling and animal abuse.

Australia included, there are only seven countries remaining with a legalised commercial greyhound racing industry, with the others being the United Kingdom, New Zealand, the Republic of Ireland, Vietnam, the United States of America and Mexico. Strong national and international advocacy efforts saw the only track in China, Macau Canidrome, shut permanently in 2018. Further, race tracks in the United States are closing at a rapid rate, with a parliamentary bill tabled to ban greyhound racing outright. Australia, sadly, is trailing behind international standards.

Greyhounds previously housed at Macau Canidrome. Source: Philip Fong / AFP / Getty Images

When incidents occur which attract widespread public interest, there is often a huge upsurgence in concerns for animal welfare and calls for massive reform. Following the live baiting scandal, NSW declared a statewide greyhound racing ban in 2016 due to findings of a special commission of inquiry. The inquiry found "overwhelming evidence of systemic animal cruelty, including mass greyhound killings and live baiting". Although this ban was sadly overturned, it is indicative of the scope and magnitude of the widespread concerns with regards to animal welfare and industry integrity. 

A possum used as live bait to train greyhounds in Australia. Source: ABC

The ACT banned the industry outright in 2018, but currently there are no formal calls to ban greyhound racing anywhere else in Australia. With increased public scrutiny, welfare advocacy and lack of public support, there is hope that this vile industry will simply 'run its course' in the coming years.

Tasmanian ban on greyhound racing 

In 2025, Tasmanian premier, Jeremy Rockliff, declared a complete phase out of greyhound racing by 2029. A draft of the bill was created in the same year, stating the following reforms:

• An immediate ban on breeding greyhounds for racing. 

• Additional requirements for racing interstate greyhounds in Tasmania. 

• A prohibition on euthanasia of racing greyhounds for non-medical reasons.

At the time of this article, the bill has not been finalised, with recent news reporting that there have been delays in the process, with the bill being pulled from the upper house after some members opposed the bill. However, the government has claimed that it will cease funding the sport even if the bill does not succeed. 

The premier has made a request to inquire about the ban on greyhound racing for a second time, although it is unclear at this time how the committee will respond.