As New South Wales Premier Mike Baird prepares what some senior MPs expect "to be a change of course on the government's historic greyhound racing ban," the state government is continuing several inquiries into "explosive allegations of mass graves and corruption linked to the sport," according to James Robertson of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. A leaked confidential letter from former Greyhound Racing NSW CEO Paul Newson details "previously unpublished allegations made by a former Greyhound Racing NSW official." The details include:
- That senior officials at Greyhound Racing NSW had themselves been involved in "live baiting."
- That at least one employee involved in staging races "also bet on races."
- That current and former greyhound officials engaged in "corrupt" and "improper" conduct and did not disclose the discovery of banned substances found while investigating a trainer.
- That the former official "possessed evidence which could be used to convict industry participants of live baiting."
The allegations, which have not been tested under cross-examination, "are the subject of an ongoing inquiry by the sport's regulator, codenamed Project Hose." A "number of other allegations relating to corruption are ongoing." Another inquiry, codenamed Project Yard, is "continuing to look into allegations more than 50 greyhounds have been found at a mass grave at a property near Tamworth" (
SMH, 10/10).
