NSW Extends Drake Inquiry into Greyhound Racing NSW until April 30

The government of New South Wales has extended the time frame for The Drake Inquiry into Greyhound Racing NSW amid a high volume of submissions.

The Extended Report Will Focus on GRNSW’s Financial Management

The original plan was to have the report ready by the middle of December 2024. However, the high volume of submissions has forced the government to push back the original deadline to April 30, 2025.

A government spokesperson noted that this extra few months will allow Hon. Lea Drake, the acting commissioner of the Greyhound Welfare and Integrity Commission to carefully consider all available information and evidence.

The extended timeframe will also allow the government to broaden the terms of reference of the inquiry, as Drake requested. As a result, the inquiry will now be able to increase its focus on Greyhound Racing NSW’s financial management.

GRNSW Is Facing Scrutiny Amid Suboptimal Financials

GRNSW, for context, is expected to post a significant loss in its full-year report, set to be published soon. The expanded terms of reference now require the acting commissioner to inquire into, report on and make findings and recommendations related to the organization’s processes and management. This includes its financial management, HR practices and concerns about potential conflicts of interest.

Because of the importance of this inquiry, the NSW government recently extended the terms of GRNSW board members by an additional nine months. This measure sought to ensure the organization’s stability during The Drake Inquiry.  

This decision somewhat contradicted an earlier show cause notice that was handed to the GRNSW board, asking them to explain why they should not be removed from power.

The inquiry’s next hearings will take place on October 15 and 16. Additional hearings are set to take place from October 21.

In the meantime, the greyhound racing sector is dealing with increased scrutiny following a vet’s report. Alex Brittan, ex-chief veterinarian of GRNSW, alleged that the organization is mistreating animals, forcing dogs to race at barbaric rates and leaving them in tight metal cages once they can no longer compete. While there have been some efforts to find homes for retired dogs, in reality only a third of the animals that can no longer compete manage to make it out of the industrial kennels.