A bill to shut down the greyhound racing industry in NSW passed into law at 3:43am Wednesday morning by a vote of 49 to 30 on its third reading in the state's parliament.
The 36 greyhound tracks dotted across NSW will eventually be repurposed for local communities to have "open green space", the state's premier, Mike Baird, told BuzzFeed News.
“Others might want sporting facilities, particularly for schools," said Baird, who turned up to vote despite having broken his back slipping down stairs in socks.
"The government will not be looking to profit from [the land], quite the opposite."
Baird said the government would assist trainers with financial support to share the cost of keeping dogs who now would no longer be bringing in winnings on the race track.
"We’ve heard the owners and trainers love their dogs, so there should be an opportunity to keep them," he said.
The premier, who owns a labradoodle named Moses, even hinted at adopting one himself but said it would be a "family decision".
"There will be concern for Moses... He is the dog at the moment," Baird said.
The legislation passed the second reading by 48 votes to 35 even though three National party MPs crossed the floor and two abstained from casting a vote on the bill, which was drafted in response to a damning report on the industry.
"There is nothing inherently cruel in greyhound racing as such ... greyhounds love to run," opposition leader Luke Foley told the parliament before the vote in a speech that exceeded two hours.
"Working-class people and communities deserve respect and fair treatment at all times and that is why we are totally opposed to this legislation which will criminalise an industry, a sport, and an Australian way of life."
Baird said Foley cared about animals and did not actually believe in the Labor party's stance.
"[Foley] is a patron of the RSPCA and his first policy was animal welfare."