Greyhound Racing NSW (GRNSW) Chair Adam Casselden has declared the sport’s involvement with the annual National Bush Summit a great success and “something we should have been doing years ago.”
The two-day Bush Summit, held in Dubbo this week, has become a major event bringing together political leaders including the Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Leader of the Opposition Angus Taylor, industry experts, and regional communities to discuss issues affecting rural Australia.
In 2026 GRNSW made the decision to become a partner in the event a decision based on the fact that the majority of the industry’s participants are based in regional NSW and impacted by issues raised at the Summit.
GRNSW and Greyhounds As Pets (GAP) both played roles in the Summit, with the GAP stand, their puppies and retired greyhound athletes, proving very popular and attracting much interest across the two days, before Summit attendees had the opportunity to conclude their stay in the Central West at the Dubbo Greyhound Club’s race meeting on Thursday afternoon where the Regional Final of the Ladbrokes Million Dollar Chase was staged.
“Greyhound racing, it's a rural sport predominantly, and to partner with News Corp as part of the Bush Summit has been fabulous,” Mr Casselden said. “Great numbers, good people, great topics to talk about. We should have been doing this years ago.
“Just the turnout here this week has been amazing. We had a stall at the Bush Summit with our GAP people and the number of people were coming up, and they were all so complimentary. That program is really wonderful for the organisation and for the sport.
“And then to get wonderful numbers here at Dubbo (Greyhound Club) for this race meeting, and hats off to the club here in Dubbo for putting on this twilight series for us. Again, good people, good racing, and just a good catch-up for fellowship.”
The National Bush Summit is organised and run by News Corp Australia. The theme was Build the Bush, Back the Future, with the Summit dedicated to finding real solutions to the challenges facing regional communities and ensuring their voices are heard at the highest levels of government.
The organisers were not only delighted to have GRNSW and the sport on board for the 2026 National Bush Summit, they saw the clear synergy in the partnership.
“The National Bush Summit is really about celebrating regional life, rural life, and also looking for improvements and how we can make people's lives out here just a little bit better,” John Lehmann, National Advocacy Director at News Corp said.
“So we thought it would be a great idea when Greyhound Racing NSW came to us and said they would put on a special race day for the Bush Summit. I thought it was a great way to put a light on a pastime that many, many regional Australians are interested in.
“As you know, 12,000 NSW people are involved (working) in the industry and I think it's about $750 million goes into local economies, about $500 million of that in regional areas. So it's a sport that people love. It's a great pastime, and I think now with the industry really being serious about the welfare of dogs in recent years, it's really made a big difference to participants in the sport.
“And it's great to see more people adopting dogs as well. I certainly see more people walking around with greyhounds in my local neighbourhood in Sydney.”
“It’s been a great initiative (having GRNSW and GAP involved in the Summit), and we've certainly enjoyed coming out to the races.
“I want to thank GRNSW and the Club for putting on the race day for us. We appreciate it, and acknowledge a sport that that people in the bush love.”
Photo Caption: A day at Dubbo Dogs to wind up the National Bush Summit. (L-R) Hancock Agriculture & S. Kidman CEO the Hon Adam Giles, News Corp’s National Advocacy Director John Lehmann and GRNSW Chair Adam Casselden enjoyed an afternoon at Dawson Park on Thursday.
