Compliance and Enforcement Explanatory Guide
The Compliance and Enforcement Explanatory Guide explains how the Commission goes about performing its regulatory functions, including its approach to achieving high levels of compliance by greyhound industry participants. This Guide also explains the requirements placed on participants and the Commission’s approach to detecting and penalising non-compliance.
This Guide is designed for industry participants and uses plain English. Participants may need to obtain further advice, including legal advice, if disciplinary actions are commenced against them.
The Compliance and Enforcement Explanatory Guide can be found below.
Greyhound Racing Rules
NSW is part of the Greyhounds Australasia (GA) national rules framework. The NSW Greyhound Racing Rules comprise the Greyhounds Australasia Rules of Racing (also known as the “national rules”) and local rules that apply only in NSW.
The Rules specify the powers of controlling bodies and stewards, registration requirements for persons and greyhounds, animal welfare requirements, prohibited substances and the conduct of races and trials.
The NSW Greyhound Racing Rules are administered by the Commission. There are some rules that relate to the functions of GRNSW which are administered by GRNSW.
Download the current Greyhound Racing Rules below.
Past versions of the Rules can be accessed through our Resource Library.
GWIC Policies
The Commission is responsible for initiating, developing and implementing policies relating to the welfare of greyhounds.
The Commission can enforce these policies under its legislation and the Greyhound Racing Rules
The Commission will progressively develop new regulatory policies in consultation with industry and other stakeholders.
The following policies have been formally adopted by the Commission:
The purpose of the Race Day Hydration and Hot Weather Policy is to protect the health and welfare of greyhounds at race tracks.
The Policy requires Stewards to abandon any meeting where the temperature rises above 38°C, and allows participants to scratch their greyhounds without penalty if the temperature is forecast to rise above 32°C.
The Policy also requires that water must be provided to greyhounds being housed in race-day kennels. Participants may apply for an exemption from this requirement.
How to apply for an ongoing water exemption
- Complete the Application for an Ongoing Water Exemption Form (PDF, 99.17 KB)
- Water Exemption applications require a GWIC steward endorsement and signature on Water Exemption application form. Please see the GWIC steward on race day for endorsement.
- Submit the completed form and photo evidence to the Commission via registration@gwic.nsw.gov.au
What evidence is required when applying for a water exemption?
Evidence is gathered by the GWIC steward on race day and then used as part of endorsing Water Exemption before sending to the Registration Team for processing.
If you have any questions about applying for a water exemption, please contact the Commission's Customer Service Hotline on 13 49 42.
The purpose of the Commission's Trial Track Policy is to protect the welfare and safety of greyhounds at trial tracks.
The Policy details requirements that trial track proprietors must meet to register and operate a trial track in NSW, and the records they must keep. The Commission has developed a number of templates to assist trial track proprietors with keeping records. These templates can be found here.
Read the Policy in full below
Greyhound owners are responsible for rehoming any greyhounds that they do not wish to retain. The Commission’s Greyhound Rehoming Policy specifies the requirements that greyhound owners must meet in attempting to rehome greyhounds that are retired from, or otherwise unsuitable for, racing. Failure to meet these obligations may result in disciplinary action.
This Policy applies to all greyhound racing industry participants registered with the Commission, and to all greyhounds owned or kept by a greyhound racing industry participant. This Policy also applies to greyhound racing industry participants licensed in other jurisdictions and operating in NSW.
Greyhounds must be desexed prior to being rehomed as a companion animal. Participants may be able to access financial assistance from GRNSW to have their greyhounds desexed through the Owner Assistance Program.
As the NSW greyhound racing industry strives to be a world leader in welfare, under the policy it is not permissible to have a greyhound euthanased if rehoming attempts fail, nor can participants surrender retired greyhounds to a NSW or interstate facility that conducts animal research, animal plasma or blood collection.
Appropriate rehoming benefits the greyhound racing industry, pet owners and above all, the greyhounds themselves. In 2023, the Animal Welfare Committee developed Rehoming Best Practice Guidelines, which can be found below.
Amendments to Greyhound Rehoming Policy - commenced 1 October 2024
- On 1 October 2024, the Commission amended the Greyhound Rehoming Policy (PDF, 216.41 KB). The key changes to the policy are:
- The registration of a participant who permanently surrenders a greyhound to a Controlling Body will be cancelled and the participant will not be eligible for registration for a period of five years.
- Participants must not, without the prior approval of the Commission, transfer a greyhound to an unregistered person who resides at the same address as a participant OR who resides at a registered kennel address.
Greyhound Rehoming Policy key changes flyer (PDF, 345.98 KB)
Temperament Assessment flyer (PDF, 335.19 KB)
Temperament Assessment Referral form template (PDF, 1.13 MB)
Temperament Assessment Report template (PDF, 141.52 KB)
Greyhound applications and notifications - including forms relating to the Rehoming policy
Failure to comply with this Policy is an offence under R 156(w) of the Greyhound Racing Rules and may result in disciplinary action.
Section 41 (1) of the Greyhound Racing Act 2017 makes it an offence to keep, on any premises at or on which greyhounds are kept, trialled, trained or raced any animal reasonably capable of being used as a lure in connection with the trialling, training or racing of greyhounds.
Section 41 (2) provides that the Commission may, on application, make an order authorising the person to keep an animal of the kind specified in the order (an exemption order).
Participants need to apply for an exemption order for any animal that could be used as a lure, such as cats, small dogs, guinea pigs, ferrets or chickens.
An exemption is not required for large animals such as horses, cattle, sheep, pigs or goats (though you do need to apply for an exemption for lambs, piglets, kids).
An exemption order can specify any kind or number of animals except for possums or rabbits. The Act does not allow the Commission to grant an exemption order for a rabbit or possum. This means that participants cannot keep these animals at all.
Applicants are to provide the following information:
- Type and number of animals kept, and purpose for which animals are kept
- Number and age of greyhounds kept
- Greyhound training facilities on property (if any)
- Animal housing arrangements
For more information on animal exemptions, please refer to our fact sheet or assessment guidelines.
How can I apply for an animal exemption order?
A copy of the application can be downloaded below
Under LR155A and LR178C(1) of the Greyhound Racing Rules, a person who is under investigation or subject to disciplinary action cannot transfer ownership or trainership of a greyhound.
The purpose of the Commission's Greyhound Transfer Policy is to ensure that these rules are enforced and to protect the welfare of greyhounds kept by participants who are under investigation or subject to disciplinary action.
The Policy also explains how participants can seek an exemption from these rules restricting transfers and how the Commission assesses requests for an exemption.
Applications for an exemption must be made in writing and applicants are to provide the following information:
- Details of greyhound to be transferred
- New owner or trainer details
- Reason for seeking an exemption
The Greyhound Transfer Policy can be found below
How do I apply for an exemption?
A copy of the greyhound transfer exemption application can be downloaded below.
The Greyhound Syndicates Policy formally sets out the registration requirements for syndicates and promoters. The policy introduces Public and Private Syndicates and phases out Partnerships. Syndicates must be registered with GWIC.
A Private Syndicate refers to a syndicate of at least two people that is formed for the purpose of owning a greyhound. Members of a private syndicate must know each other before forming a syndicate. A private syndicate may have up to 30 members.
A Public Syndicate is a syndicate formed for the purpose of owning greyhounds but is formed through a public offer that is open to anyone.
All syndicates must have a Syndicate Manager and this person must be registered as a GWIC participant.
Promoters of Public Syndicates are required to register with GWIC, as per the Regulation. Information on how to apply for a promoter’s registration can be found in the promoter's tab.
Find the Greyhound Syndicates policy below
List of Mandatory and Permitted Gear for Greyhounds Racing in NSW
Gear, as defined by the Greyhound Racing Rules, means any strapping or equipment (including a muzzle) applied to a greyhound in connection with the kennelling, presentation for or competing in an Event. As the controlling body, the Commission has compiled a list of items considered mandatory or permitted gear to be applied to a greyhound in connection with kennelling, presentation for racing or trialling. Follow the guide below to learn more about Mandatory and Permitted Gear for greyhounds racing in NSW.
Standards of Dress
To promote the image of greyhound racing in NSW the Greyhound Welfare & Integrity Commission has developed standards of dress that should be familiar to most participants. The Commission’s stewards may penalise participants at their discretion for failing to comply with the standards of dress. The standards of Dress can be viewed below.
Previous Codes and Policies
Copies of the previous Codes and Policies are available in the Resource Library. Please note that they are no longer current and have been replaced by the codes and policies above.