{
  "id": 9290091,
  "title": "SA greyhound racing allowed to continue, with independent watchdog",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/sa-greyhound-racing-allowed-to-continue-with-independent-watchdog",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-23T07:04:01.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ABC News AU",
    "slug": "abc-news-au",
    "url": "https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-09-23/sa-greyhound-racing-to-continue-under-independent-watchdog/107185024"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "South Australia's greyhound racing industry has been granted the go-ahead to continue, with the establishment of a new independent watchdog following a two-year reform period. The decision comes after an independent inquiry, led by former Victorian police commissioner Graham Ashton, delivered 87 recommendations in 2023 to improve the industry's practices. South Australia had been the sole state without an integrity oversight body until now.\n\nA final report, handed down on Wednesday, recommended that greyhound racing continue and that there is a need for better oversight of animal welfare and integrity issues. Greyhound Racing SA has responded to 73 of the 78 recommendations under their responsibility, with the remaining five still in progress but expected to be completed in the near future.\n\nThe state government plans to introduce legislation next year to support the creation of the integrity body. The reforms made in greyhound racing, including changes to administration, operation, integrity, race day, and welfare, have been significant, according to Mr. Perna. The industry has also spent millions of dollars to implement the recommended changes, putting them in a much better position.\n\nThe government will engage with all interested parties, including the RSPCA and other welfare groups, as well as sport and racing ministers, to address the recommendations. Greyhound Racing SA CEO Brenton Scott welcomed the government's announcement, describing it as a positive outcome that will provide certainty for the industry's future. However, the Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds criticized the time it will take to implement the independent watchdog and called for an end to greyhound racing in South Australia.",
  "summary": "The state government will allow greyhound racing to continue — but with an integrity oversight body — after the industry was given two years to improve its standards.",
  "key_points": [
    "South Australia's greyhound racing resumes with independent watchdog.",
    "87 recommendations from 2023 inquiry aim to improve practices.",
    "Greyhound Racing SA has addressed 73 of 78 recommendations."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The establishment of an independent watchdog marks a significant shift towards stricter oversight of animal welfare and integrity issues in South Australia's greyhound racing industry, granting it a reprieve to continue operating.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}