Dozens of young greyhounds are still being exported to Macau's Canidrome racetrack where they face mistreatment and death, despite the racing industry's peak body banning the export of the dogs.
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This month, Greyhounds Australasia said it stopped issuing passports for dogs to be exported a year ago, because it does not support their export to any country that does not meet animal welfare standards.
But freedom of information documents show Australian greyhounds continue to be sent to Macau.
The ban that was reportedly put in place a year ago has only just been made public, attracting criticism about the secrecy surrounding the decision by Greyhounds Australasia.
The organisation has been criticised for keeping under wraps a review into live dog exports, including the development of welfare standards for countries importing Australian greyhounds. The findings of the review, undertaken in 2012, have never been made public.
NSW Greens MP John Kaye criticised this stance. ''The secretive behaviour of the industry bodies confirms our suspicions their report contains horror stories, and they don't want to be held accountable for their failure to stop the trade,'' he said. ''By keeping the suspension of the greyhound passports program a secret, Greyhound Racing NSW and its federal body have turned a blind eye to the trade and failed to raise public alarm over the fate awaiting the dogs in Macau.
''The record of ongoing exports shows the greyhound regulators have put no effort into enforcement. If there had been any serious intent to stop the abuse of Australian dogs exported to Macau, the state and federal bodies would both have raised a public alarm.
''All Greyhounds Australasia has done is wash its hands of the appalling fate of dogs sent to Macau.''
Greyhounds Australasia did not respond to requests for comment.
Australia is the main source of greyhounds at Macau's Canidrome racetrack, which animal welfare groups have been campaigning to have shut down because of its history of killing healthy dogs when their racing career falters or ends.
It has been estimated at least one dog a day is killed because the industry in Macau does not have any rehoming programs.
The dogs that survive are reportedly kept in pens with little or no opportunity for exercise or socialisation with other dogs.
An international alliance of animal welfare groups, including the greyhound lobby group Grey2K, have called on Greyhounds Australasia to enforce its own rules on the export ban.
