Greyhound Racing SA Wins Appeal Over $40,000 Compensation and Fine Reduction

A greyhound trainer who was struck by a 28-kilogram "mechanical lure" has been ordered to return $40,000 in compensation to South Australia's peak racing body.

The SA Employment Tribunal awarded the sum to the trainer last year after Safework SA secured a criminal conviction against Greyhound Racing SA [GRSA].

But GRSA has appealed the decision, with the same tribunal now finding the compensation had been given without proper processes being followed under the Sentencing Act.

The tribunal has also found GRSA's fine should be reduced from $255,000 to $180,000, as the organisation should have received the maximum benefit for entering an early guilty plea.

No compensation case submitted

The tribunal said the fine and compensation relate to injuries sustained by a trainer who used an unauthorised shortcut to exit a racing start area in September 2022.

This put him "in close proximity to the mechanical lure whilst trials were occurring", causing him to be struck while it travelled at around 70 kilometres per hour.

The incident left him with "fractures, broken teeth and mouth lacerations which required hospitalisation and two lots of surgery", according to the court decision handed down last week.

The tribunal found GRSA liable for the injuries in 2025 as it "had not undertaken an adequate risk assessment".

Despite this, on appeal, the tribunal said neither the trainer nor Safework SA formally submitted a case for compensation in the original court proceedings.

This is a requirement under the Sentencing Act

"There was no evidence before the court in relation to the quantum of [the trainer's] loss and expense," the judgement from last week said.

"In the absence of those things, the court did not have a proper basis on which to award compensation."

Fine total slashed

In November 2025, the tribunal handed down a $300,000 fine to be paid to Safework SA.

It originally ruled a 15 per cent discount was "all that could be justified" as GRSA had refused to voluntarily compensate the trainer and offer a direct apology.

It left the organisation with a $255,000 penalty.

On appeal, the tribunal found GRSA's "failure to contact [the victim]" was based on legal advice around a separate damages claim the victim was pursuing.

It reduced the fine total to $180,000 and ordered Safework SA to pay GRSA's legal fees but upheld the criminal conviction against the racing body.

GRSA declined to comment further on the court's decision.