Greyhound trade for racing would be banned at the border
A senator wants to stop the trade in racing greyhounds across Australia's border. Pet greyhounds could still travel with a permit.
Official name: Customs Legislation Amendment (Commercial Greyhound Export and Import Prohibition) Bill 2021
- Greyhounds could not leave or enter Australia for racing, breeding or any other business reason.
- The ban also covers greyhound semen, eggs and embryos. Embryos are the very first stage of an unborn puppy.
- Pet greyhounds could still travel if the owner gets written permission first.
- Senator Mehreen Faruqi brought the bill in 2021. It has not been voted on.
Who it affects
- Greyhound racing and breeding businesses: They could no longer send or bring in dogs, semen or embryos for racing, breeding or sale.
- Owners of pet greyhounds: They would need written permission before taking their dog overseas or bringing one home.
- People who send a pet greyhound overseas: They would have to keep records on each dog. They would have to show them to officials if asked.
Greyhounds shipped overseas for racing
Greyhound racing is a business in Australia. Some dogs are sent overseas or brought in from other countries. So is some greyhound breeding material.
Senator Mehreen Faruqi brought this bill to the Senate on 1 September 2021. The Senate is one of the two houses of Parliament.
It is a private bill. That means a member of Parliament wrote it, not the government.
The bill would change two sets of border rules. One is the Customs (Prohibited Exports) Regulations 1958. It lists goods that cannot leave Australia without permission.
The other is the Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations 1956. It lists goods that cannot come in without permission.
The senator wrote notes that explain each part of the bill. They say the goal is to stop greyhounds crossing the border for racing, breeding or any other way of making money.
Greyhound exports banned
Part 1 would make it illegal to send a greyhound overseas unless the owner has written permission. The owner must show it to border officers.
The word greyhound here also covers breeding material. That means semen, eggs, embryos or any other part that could make a new greyhound.
Permission could only be given if the dog is a pet at home. It must also not be going overseas for breeding, racing or any other business reason.
Say you are moving to New Zealand. Your retired racing greyhound now lives on your couch. You would apply in writing to the farm minister, or to a public servant the minister picks.
They can ask you for more details. They then tell you in writing if you are approved. They can add conditions.
Permission can be cancelled if you break a condition. You would be told in writing if that happens.
Records for pet greyhounds
Anyone given permission to send a greyhound overseas would have to keep records for each dog. The records must show the date it left, its age, sex and weight, and why it went.
They must also show the permit number. They must give the names and addresses of the person sending the dog and the person getting it.
The records must be kept until the minister or an approved official says they can be thrown out. An official can ask to see them at any fair time and take copies.
Greyhound imports banned
Part 2 sets up a matching ban on bringing dogs in. A greyhound, or its semen, eggs or embryos, could not come into Australia without written permission shown to border officers.
The same test applies. The dog must be a pet. It must not be coming in for racing, breeding or business. The same rules apply for applying, adding conditions and cancelling permission.
The bill notes that other laws still apply too. For example, the Biosecurity Act 2015 has its own rules. They stop pests and diseases coming in with animals.
Right to challenge decisions
You might be refused, or given conditions you do not like, or have your permission cancelled. If so, you could ask the Administrative Appeals Tribunal to look at it again.
That is a body that checks government decisions. It is like a court, but less formal, and it stands apart from the government.
The letter telling you the decision must say that you can do this. If the letter leaves it out, the decision still stands.
Ban made hard to undo
The government can usually change border rules without a vote in Parliament. Part 3 of the bill blocks that for this ban.
Say a later rule would remove the greyhound ban, or find a way around it. It would not take effect until both the House of Representatives, the larger house of Parliament, and the Senate vote yes.
Waiting in the Senate
If passed, the law would start the day after the Governor-General signs it. The Governor-General is the King's stand-in in Australia.
The bill was put to the Senate on 1 September 2021. A vote on its main idea was proposed that day. It has not been debated to a vote since.
It died when Parliament ended in July 2022. It was put back on the Senate's list a few days later.
The same thing happened again in July 2025. It was put back on the Senate's list on 23 July 2025, where it still waits.
It would need to pass the Senate and then the House of Representatives to become law.
Its journey through Parliament
| 01 Sep 2021 | Senate: Introduced and read a first time |
| 01 Sep 2021 | Senate: Second reading moved |
| 25 Jul 2022 | Senate: Lapsed at end of Parliament |
| 27 Jul 2022 | Senate: Restored to Notice Paper |
| 21 Jul 2025 | Senate: Lapsed at end of Parliament |
| 23 Jul 2025 | Senate: Restored to Notice Paper |