Humane World for Animals has applauded decisions by three Sydney Councils to take part in a trial removal of one shark net from each of their respective Local Government Areas this summer (1 September 2025 – 31 March 2026). Central Coast, Northern Beaches and Waverley Councils each accepted the invitation...
On June 7, 2025, the Queensland Government opened The Q—a newly built greyhound racing complex in Purga, south of Ipswich. Featuring a straight track, a one-turn track and a two-turn track, The Q was pitched as a world-class facility that would lead the way on animal welfare. It was designed to replace two existing tracks—Albion Park and Ipswich—and was sold to the public as a leap forward in safety.
But within weeks of opening, The Q was shut down twice after being deemed “unsuitable for racing.” Just over a month since its grand opening, at least eight greyhounds have already died or been seriously injured on the track. That’s more than one a week.
Despite being promoted as a safety-first facility, The Q has quickly become a symbol of the same systemic cruelty that has long defined the greyhound racing industry. Originally budgeted at $39 million, the project ultimately cost taxpayers $86.3 million—more than double its projected spend. And while Queensland Racing officials scramble to reassure the public, the facts speak for themselves.
A history of failure, cruelty and cover-ups
The problems at The Q are not isolated. They’re the product of an industry that has resisted meaningful reform for decades.
In 2015, the MacSporran Report—commissioned after multiple welfare scandals—found that greyhound racing in Queensland was operating with “poor governance, limited transparency, and a weak culture of animal welfare.” It detailed the routine killing of healthy dogs, a lack of independent oversight, and minimal effort to rehome retired racers.
The same year, the ABC’s Four Corners program aired the now-infamous “Making a Killing” exposé, revealing the use of live baiting—where piglets, possums, and rabbits were tied to lures to be mauled by greyhounds during training. The footage shocked the public and triggered widespread condemnation.
In response, the Queensland Government created the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission (QRIC) to separate welfare regulation from the racing industry’s commercial arm. The move was meant to restore public confidence and ensure independent oversight of greyhound racing.
Nearly a decade later, the problems persist
A 2025 Queensland Racing Review is currently underway, prompted by persistent welfare concerns and growing public distrust. While its findings are yet to be released, the very need for another review—just a decade after the 2015 MacSporran Inquiry—points to a failure to address systemic issues. Preventable deaths and injuries, inconsistent welfare enforcement, and poor transparency remain entrenched, all while operating behind a veil of limited public scrutiny.
Even now, deaths and injuries are only officially recorded when a steward is present during a sanctioned race. Greyhounds trial and train regularly off the books, and there is no requirement to report injuries or deaths during those sessions. What the public sees is just the surface.
In 2024, 20 greyhounds died on track, and 1,865 were injured during races across Queensland. Alarmingly, 2025 is already on track to be even worse. As of July, 19 greyhounds have died and 935 have been injured on Queensland tracks—putting the industry on pace to exceed last year’s toll well before the end of the year.
These are not isolated incidents. These numbers reflect the normal, expected functioning of greyhound racing in this country. An industry that claims to be modern, regulated, and welfare-conscious is still producing death and injury on an industrial scale.
Enough is enough
The Q was supposed to represent a turning point—a safer, more accountable future for greyhound racing. Instead, it’s become a $86 million monument to the same broken system that has failed dogs for decades.
The evidence is clear: greyhound racing cannot be fixed. Reforms have failed. Inquiries have come and gone. And dogs are still dying, week after week, year after year.
It’s time to end greyhound racing in Australia.
At Humane World for Animals, we are calling for a national phase-out of commercial greyhound racing, and an end to public funding for an industry built on cruelty. We want to see real investment in rehoming programs, transparency around injuries and deaths—including those occurring during off-the-record trials—and a commitment to protecting animals, not exploiting them.
Take action
If you agree that greyhound racing has no future in Australia, now is the time to speak up. Send a message to your state MP today and call for a ban. Together, we can help bring this outdated and inhumane industry to an end.
