Caption: ‘There will be no post-Christmas slumber on or off the track as 2024 kicks off with a bang’ – Simon Stout
By Greyhounds Australasia CEO SIMON STOUT
While we draw breath from a fantastic finish to 2023, following marquee industry events the Hobart Thousand and The Phoenix, putting an exclamation mark on the year, there will be no post-Christmas slumber on or off the track.
2024 kicks off with a bang with an outstanding month of racing including the Paws of Thunder, National Derby, National Futurity and the Gold Bullion.
Off the racetrack GA, is focused on providing support to several Member jurisdictions, as governmental affairs come to the fore.
In New Zealand, the new tri-party coalition Government has taken the reins, including the appointment of NZ First Party leader Winston Peters to the Racing Ministerial portfolio.
Minister Peters has been welcomed by the racing industry at large, as a long-recognised supporter of the industry, the former NZ Prime Minister, has also held the racing ministerial portfolio on more than one occasion.
GRNZ has provided a written briefing to the incoming Minister outlining the substantial progress made by the code in NZ and GA looks forward to joining GRNZ in meeting with Minister Peters early in the new year.
South Australian administrators and participants have been digesting the recently released Ashton Report, An Independent Inquiry into Greyhound Racing in SA.
The recommendations made within the Ashton Report have received in-principal support for adoption by SA Premier Peter Malinauskas. The new year will see GRSA working collaboratively with the SA Government on a plan to implement the recommendations.
Given the volume of reforms undertaken by the greyhound industry throughout Australasia in recent years, the SA participants can be assured of the support of GA and its member jurisdictions in working through any of the new requirements.
As one regulatory review draws towards its conclusion, another has been slated for commencement.
In mid-December, Queensland Racing Minister Grace Grace announced an independent review into the ongoings of the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission (QRIC). Administrators and stakeholders in Queensland await the review’s terms of reference and GA looks forward to contributing to the review process.
Concurrently the new year will see the continuance of integrity reforms in Tasmania.
Following the 2022 Monteith Report into racing integrity operations in Tasmania, the Tasmanian Government accepted recommendations for the restructuring of racing integrity in Tasmania, including the disbanding of the Office of Racing Integrity (ORI).
Under changes to the Tasmanian Racing Regulation Act, integrity operations (stewarding, licensing, and veterinary) will be integrated into the current control body, Tasracing.
The legislation, scheduled for tabling early this year, will also see the appointment of a Victorian-style Racing Commissioner to provide oversight and governance to racing integrity operations.
The reliable identification of greyhounds is a fundamental integrity measure underpinning the sport of greyhound racing, and the tattooing (branding) of an ear with a unique registration code, is currently compulsory in all Greyhounds Australasia (GA) jurisdictions, except for New Zealand.
In late 2022, Greyhound Racing New Zealand announced the introduction of Local Rules which removed the requirement for the mandatory ear tattoo in all NZ-registered greyhounds, with the practice ceased from February 1, 2023.
Following the review of identification methods by a GA working group and consultation between Controlling Bodies, the GA Board has determined that the requirement for ear tattooing of registered greyhounds will cease.
It is intended that by July 1, 2024, the requirement for an ear tattoo to be applied as part of the identification process for greyhound pups will end. Current identification methods of microchipping and marking will continue to occur.
The microchip will remain as the primary identifier for registered greyhounds. Several alternate identification methods are currently being advanced by Controlling Bodies to replace the ear tattoo.
Each greyhound pup will continue to be provided with a unique registration code (currently the ear tattoo/brand) that will sit within the greyhound’s digital profile and remain uniquely attributed to that greyhound for life.
If the microchip cannot be located or read, then a replacement microchip will need to be inserted and a DNA sample may be taken to verify the greyhound’s identity.
Controlling Bodies are currently addressing the implementation of alternate methods of identification, which would be available to operate if the microchip cannot be found.
It is intended that these measures will be incorporated into the race day procedures at a jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction level, technology that, when positioned alongside current identification methods such as the microchip, will enable an efficient and advanced means of greyhound identification and traceability.
In preparation for the termination of the ear tattooing of greyhounds and the removal of the ear tattoo as a source of identification within the GA Rules (GARs), the first phase of amended GA Rules has been provided to the Controlling Bodies for external consultation and we encourage all participants to review these and provide feedback to your respective state Control Body.