The RSPCA has finally agreed to take part in a greyhound racing reform panel after meeting with NSW Premier Mike Baird.
The "absolutely gutted" animal welfare organisation threatened to boycott the advisory panel earlier this week after Mr Baird spectacularly backflipped on his promise to outlaw the industry next year.
But after a meeting with the premier on Thursday afternoon, RSPCA NSW chief executive Steve Coleman agreed to take part as greyhound owners and trainers are offered "one last chance".
Mr Coleman said the organisation wanted to be certain animal welfare was front and centre for the panel before agreeing to become members.
"RSPCA NSW's members, supporters and the community expect us to be at the table advocating for the welfare of greyhounds in the industry," Mr Coleman said on Thursday.
News that makes sense
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
Chaired by former NSW Labor premier Morris Iemma, the panel has been established to advise the state government on better regulating the industry.
A new greyhound racing "regime" is set to include mandatory life bans and increased jail time for live baiting, lifetime registration for greyhounds and controlled breeding.
An independent regulator will be installed and extra resources allocated towards enforcement and prosecution of animal welfare.
The premier declared on Tuesday he "got it wrong" in legislating to ban the industry, instead throwing them a lifeline under the strict new regulations.
"We got it wrong. I got it wrong. Cabinet got it wrong. The government got it wrong," Mr Baird said at the time.
His now-abandoned ban came after a Special Commission of Inquiry report that found up to 68,000 "uncompetitive" greyhounds were slaughtered in the past 12 years and nearly one in five trainers used live animal baits.
The reform panel is expected to report back to government early next year, before legislation is introduced to repeal the ban.
