The Big Grey Film

The Big Grey Film will address the systemic animal welfare and social issues within the Australian greyhound racing industry, and their impacts on Australian dogs and the public.

Every year, eleven thousand dogs are killed from racing, injury, underperformance or overbreeding in the Australian greyhound racing industry. Of those who survive, eighty nine percent show signs of neglect. Reports of malpractice are frequent and offenders often face minimised penalties due to industry self-regulation and a lack of legislative protection.

The industry is also affected by social issues including taxpayer funding and problem gambling, with Australia having recently been reported to have the world’s highest online gambling spend per capita.

Adopting a journalistic approach, this documentary will conduct an unprecedented investigation into the issues permeating the greyhound racing industry, both domestically and abroad, and explore solutions for positive reform.

The Big Grey Film will address the widespread, systemic animal welfare issues within the Australian greyhound racing industry, resulting in the death, injury and neglect of tens of thousands of dogs every year. It will also explore social issues negatively impacting the Australian public, including problem gambling, corruption and taxpayer funding.

The film will provide its dog-loving audience with an unprecedented investigation into these issues and groundbreaking interviews with key industry stakeholders including celebrities, politicians, veterinarians, greyhound trainers, rescue organisations and whistleblowers.

This film aims to improve the livelihood of Australian racing dogs by spreading awareness of these critical issues and promoting cultural, legislative and operational reform. These changes include improving industry regulation and animal welfare standards, and increasing greyhound adoption rates and support for the organisations who facilitate this.

I, like most Australians, share a cultural and emotional kinship with dogs. They are more than just pets, they are best mates and family members. Eighty seven percent of Australians believe the government should protect animal welfare through legislation. Despite this, most Australians are unaware that one of our own industries results in the death or injury of hundreds of dogs every week.

My aim is to spread awareness of the widespread animal welfare issues that afflict Aussie dogs within the racing industry, in order to increase their legislative protection and reduce their risk of injury and death, as well as revolutionise the public’s perceptions of greyhounds from disposable commodities, back into best friends.

Through the soulful eyes of these gentle, quirky dogs, I will also invite the audience to reflect on broader issues affecting themselves and society, such as equality, liberty and morality.

During the production and promotion of my short film about greyhounds, I gained significant access to the aforementioned audiences and collaborators, who have expressed interest in The Big Grey Film:

Media personalities, Todd McKenney and Jessica Fox, who are greyhound owners and advocates for GAP, Australia’s largest greyhound rehoming organisation.

Politicians involved in greyhound policy-making, Georgie Purcell, Mehreen Faruqi and members of the Greens party, and Racing Integrity Commissioner, Shane Gillard.

Andrea Pollard, Director of national greyhound data group, Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds, who compile comprehensive industry, media and government reports.

Australia’s major greyhound rescue organisations including Greyhound Rescue, Greyt Greys Rescue, Friends of the Hound, Free the Hound.

I also have access to industry veterinarians, whistleblowers, and a retired greyhound trainer.

This film will call on stakeholders from both sides of the greyhound racing industry to consider the positive cultural, legislative and operational reforms explored through the interviews and investigations included in this film, to benefit the lives of greyhounds and Australians.

It will ask the public to consider fostering or adopting one of the thousands of greyhounds discarded from the industry every year, speak up for their rights and reforms, or contribute or volunteer for the organisations who support them.

It will call on the government to improve industry transparency and regulation. They will also be asked to consider ways to reduce the harm to the public by decreasing taxpayer funding and better regulation of online gambling.

It will call on the industry figureheads, trainers and policy makers to improve the welfare conditions for greyhounds on and off-track and provide better transparency of their operations.