A greyhound racing track in Orange, NSW was approved just last week but may never see a race, raising questions about the approval process and the future of the controversial industry years after the state's failed ban attempt.

The bizarre situation, reported by the ABC, highlights the ongoing uncertainty around greyhound racing in New South Wales—an industry that was nearly banned entirely in 2016 before a dramatic political backflip.

Here's the absurdity: a government authority approved a new greyhound racing facility knowing full well it might never be used. That's either spectacular incompetence or a political favour to someone. Neither option is particularly comforting.

The backstory matters here. In 2016, then-Premier Mike Baird announced a complete ban on greyhound racing in NSW after an inquiry exposed systemic animal cruelty, including live baiting and the mass killing of underperforming dogs. The industry was given a death sentence.

But the ban lasted mere months. Intense lobbying from racing interests and regional communities, combined with political pressure, forced Baird to backflip. The industry was saved, subject to reforms and oversight. Baird resigned shortly after, citing the greyhound ban debacle among other pressures.

Since then, greyhound racing has existed in a kind of limbo. The industry has cleaned up some of its worst practices—or at least hidden them better. But participation rates have declined, tracks have closed, and the whole enterprise feels like it's on borrowed time.

So why approve a new track in Orange if there's doubt it will ever be used? The ABC reports suggest uncertainty about future demand for greyhound racing, changes in local council attitudes, and questions about whether the industry can sustain new facilities.

Animal welfare groups have long argued that greyhound racing is inherently cruel and should be phased out entirely. They point to ongoing injuries, the fate of dogs that don't make the grade, and the industry's dodgy track record on reform.

The industry counters that it provides jobs in regional areas, has implemented welfare reforms, and deserves to continue operating under stricter oversight.

Mate, this is classic NSW politics—approve something that might never be used, keep everyone guessing, and refuse to make a clear decision about whether this industry has a future or not. That uncertainty benefits no one, least of all the dogs.