What it does
The Greyhound Racing Act 2017 comprehensively reforms the governance, welfare, and integrity framework for greyhound racing in New South Wales. At its core, the Act constitutes two distinct regulatory entities. Under s 4, it establishes the Greyhound Welfare and Integrity Commission as a body corporate and NSW Government agency (per the note to s 4(2) referencing s 13A of the Interpretation Act 1987). The Commission operates independently of direct Ministerial control except where expressly provided (s 4(3)). Its principal objectives, set out in s 11, are to promote and protect greyhound welfare, safeguard the integrity of racing and betting, and maintain public confidence. Section 12 enumerates its functions, including controlling and regulating greyhound racing (subject to the Act), developing welfare policies, conducting research, consulting animal welfare bodies, and advising the Minister. These functions expressly include registering greyhounds, industry participants, and trial tracks (noted after s 12), preparing the code of practice (Part 4, Division 2), and making greyhound racing rules (Part 5, Division 4).
Complementing the Commission is Greyhound Racing New South Wales (GRNSW), constituted under s 16 as a separate body corporate that does not represent the Crown and bears its own liabilities (s 16(2)–(3)). GRNSW’s principal objectives under s 23 focus on commercial viability, social responsibility regarding welfare, and promoting racing as a competitive, sustainable industry with high public trust. Its functions, exercisable only under an operating licence granted by the Minister (s 24(2) and s 25), include conducting or authorising race meetings, allocating dates and venues, registering clubs, developing safety standards, distributing funds, funding the Commission, managing adoption programs, and supervising club dissolutions (s 24(1)).