Aussie states pledge to end greyhound racing following damning report

Two Australian states have pledged to shut down their controversial greyhound racing industry after an inquiry found widespread evidence of animal cruelty, including mass killings and live baiting.

A New South Wales state inquiry found up to 68,000 greyhounds or at least half of those bred to race in New South Wales state were killed in the last 12 years because they were deemed uncompetitive. It also found 20 percent of trainers engaged in live bating, and that 180 greyhounds each year suffered "catastrophic injuries" that resulted in their immediate deaths.

Though there were recommendations from the inquiry's chair, former High Court judge Michael McHugh to allow the industry to continue under tighter regulation, New South Wales Premier Mike Baird on Thursday announced the industry would be shut down from 2017.

"As a humane and responsible government, we are left with no acceptable course of action except to close this industry down," Baird said in a statement.

"This is the inevitable conclusion to be drawn from the appalling revelations in Mr McHugh's report and his considered view that any other measures are unlikely to protect animals from further cruelty."

The state government will also ban the breeding of greyhounds for the purpose of racing in the state and dictate significant penalties for anyone who tries to operate a black market greyhound racing industry.

The move prompted advocates to call for the racing ban to be implemented in whole Australia, however Victoria, Western Australia and Queensland states all rebuffed the assertions.

"In Queensland we have a greyhound industry that acknowledges its wrongdoing and is working very cooperatively to ensure animal welfare and integrity issues are at the forefront," Queensland Racing Minister Grace Grace told local media.

The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) however followed Baird's lead to end greyhound racing in the territory as they cannot "continue to support an industry that is turning a blind eye to the sort of behavior and cruelty uncovered by (the inquiry)," the territory's chief minister Andrew Barr said.

"It is untenable for the ACT government to continue allowing, and financially supporting the practice of greyhound racing," Barr said. Endit