28 May 2026
Animal welfare groups and political parties have called for an independent inquiry into Victorian greyhound racing after the state’s tracks continued to record a high number of deaths and injuries.
28 greyhounds die after racing on Victorian tracks in 2026, and more than 1,200 have been injured*
Animal welfare groups and MPs are calling for a parliamentary inquiry into industry regulation and welfare standards, and an end to public funding for greyhound racing
Animals Australia, Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds (CPG), Animal Justice Party and the Victorian Greens have expressed alarm at ongoing animal welfare failures within the industry.
According to racing data collated by CPG, 10 greyhounds have died on Victorian tracks in 2026, with a further 18 later dying after sustaining race-related injuries*.
CPG says this represents the highest recorded toll nationally, with more than 1,200 greyhounds sustaining racing-related injuries in Victoria this year.
“An independent parliamentary inquiry into greyhound welfare, regulation and industry oversight in Victoria is urgently needed,” said CPG Victorian Director Steve Cook. “The inquiry should examine concerns about track safety, euthanasia rates, rehoming shortfalls, participant offences, and a lack of transparency across the industry.”
In 2025, CPG data shows that 46 dogs died on Victorian tracks, with another 48 later dying after sustaining serious race-related injuries. More than 3,000 greyhounds were reportedly injured.
CPG and other animal welfare groups say the growing death and injury toll demonstrates that existing regulation has failed and that Victoria can no longer ignore mounting animal welfare concerns surrounding greyhound racing.
Animals Australia Chief Executive Officer, Glenys Oogjes
“Dog racing is inherently cruel, and it must be phased out. Animals Australia remains deeply concerned about the systemic abuse, overbreeding, isolation, live baiting, unauthorised export, injuries, doping and deaths associated with it.
“GRV’s own reports show that injuries and fatalities have continued every year since the last reviews in 2015, and the alleged $3 million ‘emergency payment’ of Victorian taxpayer funds to keep GRV operational is the antithesis to what is needed to move away from this outdated and cruel practice.”
Animal Justice Party MP Georgie Purcell
“Victoria could save half a billion dollars over ten years if the government stopped funding the continuation of greyhound racing, which could instead be used for vital services that all Victorians need.
“An inquiry into greyhound racing will allow us to examine this grubby industry’s ongoing failure to protect the animals it profits from. Anything less from the Allan government is continued complicity in cruelty."
Katherine Copsey MP, Victorian Greens
“It is despicable that the Labor Government continues to support greyhound racing, despite the alarming number of greyhound deaths on and off the track.
Greyhound racing should have no place in our state and the Victorian Greens call for it to be banned permanently.”
Steve Cook, Victorian director, Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds
“Victoria leads the country in racing deaths and there has to be an urgent inquiry. Public funding for greyhound racing must also end.
"The Australian greyhound racing industry has shown it cannot reform and there have been systemic failures in animal welfare standards. This is why it is being phased out in Tasmania and there have been inquiries and reviews in SA, WA, NSW, and Queensland.”
* Figures current to 28 May 2026.
(Image credit: Greyhound racing - Credit Will Cottle on Unsplash)
About Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds
Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds (CPG) is Australia’s only national independent greyhound advocacy group, committed to ending greyhound suffering. For more information https://greyhoundcoalition.com/
About Animals Australia
Animals Australia is Australia’s leading animal protection organisation: a strong and unified voice representing millions of members and supporters. For more information https://animalsaustralia.org/