Greyhound Industry Reform Inspector

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS (15:00): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before addressing a question to Minister Scriven, representing the Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing, a question on the appointment of the Greyhound Industry Reform Inspector.

Leave granted.

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS: Last year, former Victorian police commissioner Graham Ashton was charged with reviewing the governance and operations of the greyhound racing industry in South Australia. In December, he released his independent inquiry into the operations, culture, governance and practices of that industry. The state-commissioned inquiry was indeed prompted by revelations of multiple greyhounds being kicked and punched on a property, as well as the instances of live baiting, but also other revelations made in this parliament.

Mr Ashton, in his report, makes 86 recommendations for change in the industry, including 10 that were sourced from the RSPCA and five from the Animal Justice Party. Significantly, the report notes that if the sport is to retain a social licence into the future it will only be achieved if the reforms recommended in this report are immediate and widespread. At a press conference, the Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing and the Premier stood by Mr Ashton and committed to a Greyhound Industry Reform Inspector—to oversee two years of review of this industry, should it be able to continue into the future—commencing by Easter. Easter was last week. Where is the Greyhound Industry Reform Inspector? My questions to the Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing are:

1. What preparations are being made for the appointment of a Greyhound Industry Reform Inspector?

2. How many of the 86 recommendations that the Malinauskas government has accepted have begun to be implemented, and how many have already been effected?

3. Is there legislation coming to this parliament, as the government indicated last December there would be, to ensure that this two-year process that was meant to commence in Easter is taken seriously?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (15:02): I am happy to refer that to the minister in the other place and bring back a response. It certainly is something that is very important and that the government is taking seriously. In terms of the specifics, I will bring that back once we have had a response from the minister.