The future of greyhound racing in NSW is under threat but industry insiders argue the sport remains "an important part of Australian culture".
Commissioner Michael McHugh says he will consider whether to recommend the industry be shut down at the end of a special commission of inquiry that was created following the airing of harrowing ABC footage of live baiting.
The national broadcaster aired images of possums, piglets and rabbits strapped to mechanical lures and mauled by dogs to excite their bloodlust to make them run faster.
At the formal opening of the public part of the inquiry, the former High Court judge said the commission would examine the industry's integrity, animal welfare issues, the sport's future viability as well as social and policy issues.
"It will be one of this commission's tasks to make a recommendation concerning whether greyhound racing in this state should continue," Mr McHugh said on Wednesday.
The commission has powers equivalent to a royal commission.
The investigation has so far amassed 20,000 pages of documents with Mr McHugh describing live baiting as "cruel and barbaric" and that those who did it intended to cheat and defraud owners and trainers who abide by the law.
Greyhound Breeders, Owners and Trainers Association operations manager Ellen Harris welcomed the commission and said live baiting was not widespread in the industry.
"While the commission needs to take its course and provide recommendations, it's still an important part of Australian culture and has a place," she said.
"At the end of the day (live baiting) is something that shouldn't have happened."
Lismore Greyhound racing club operations manager Lisa Vanderstok said shutting down the industry would put her and the track's 20 staff out of a job.
"There are a lot of people out there who are good greyhound trainers, who love their dogs, care for them well," she said.
The commission, which will review existing policies for the greyhound industry and its governance, is expected to report back in September.
Mr McHugh said concerns had been raised about Greyhound Racing NSW appointing its own integrity auditor.
"It is likely a significant number (of dogs) are put down for no reason other than that they are considered unsuitable for racing," Mr McHugh said.
The commissioner took aim at attempts to re-home retired greyhounds as pets, saying it been had met with mixed enthusiasm and success and it cannot keep pace with the number of greyhounds retired each year.
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