‘What the hell is going on?’ The NSW watchdog that has found itself under investigation

The premier’s most senior public servant has ordered an investigation into the management and workplace culture of NSW’s greyhound racing regulator, which one NSW MP claimed has a toxic culture.

An email sent to all staff at the office of the Greyhound Welfare and Integrity Commission (GWIC) in April and seen by this masthead said the inquiry was established in response to concerns about the adequacy of systems, policies and procedures.

The inquiry will identify improvements “that support a well-governed, safe, respectful and inclusive workplace”.

Premier’s Department secretary Simon Draper has engaged Intersection to conduct staff interviews and to prepare a draft report. The same organisation was used by Nine, owner of this masthead, to conduct a review into the company’s workplace culture.

The racing regulator made headlines last year when Animal Justice Party MP Emma Hurst alleged in a budget estimates hearing the head of Greyhound Racing NSW, Steve Griffin, was nicknamed “Handsy” by staff in his previous job as head of the industry regulator, where he faced allegations of sexual harassment.

Griffin emphatically denies the nickname was ever used, and said the sole harassment allegation against him related to an incident where he touched a female staff member on the shoulder at a Christmas Party, and that he took the incident to human resources himself.

Hurst has made multiple attempts to compel GWIC to supply information and documents to parliament regarding allegations of workplace culture issues, most of which the regulator has claimed cannot be released to the public because of privacy concerns.

Hurst alleges she receives “constant” complaints to her office about what she describes as a toxic workplace culture at the regulator.

“What I want to know, and what the people of NSW deserve to know, is what the hell is going on inside the Greyhound Welfare and Integrity Commission,” she said.

The letter said the inquiry would consider “governance and decision-making arrangements, employment practices, workplace culture, complaints management, internal controls, record keeping, reporting, compliance with ethical obligations, and administrative interaction with external bodies where relevant”.

Staff were told participation in the inquiry was voluntary, however, they could be compelled to give an interview if Draper requires it.

A spokesperson for the Premier’s Department did not answer why an inquiry had been launched, but said a final report was expected to be handed to the department mid-year.

A GWIC spokesperson said it was co-operating with the inquiry and would not comment further.

The inquiry comes as the racing industry regulator is required to report to the minister by the end of next month with advice about improved reporting of greyhound rehoming, new minimum standards for kennels and other measures to comply with recommendations from the Drake report.

That report found not a single track in NSW had met all minimum safety standards since they were imposed in 2020.

Greyhound Racing NSW is shutting down a handful of tracks, including Broken Hill, as part of an optimisation strategy to ensure the industry’s financial sustainability.

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