Former NSW premier Morris Iemma has urged the RSPCA to "be at the table" to help a new panel chaired by him advise the state government on reform of the greyhound industry.
Premier Mike Baird announced the panel on Tuesday as part of his sensational back down on his plan to close the greyhound industry from next July.
Instead, Mr Baird he has asked Mr Iemma to chair a reform panel to report back to the government, with legislation anticipated early next year.
The government has suggested the new regime will include mandatory life bans and increased jail terms for live baiting and registering greyhounds for their entire lives.
There will be an independent regulator and more resources for enforcement and prosecution and animal welfare.
The RSPCA, industry and government have been invited to join the panel. But RSPCA chief executive Steve Coleman said the organisation would have to carefully consider its position.
"Animal cruelty [is] heavily entrenched and inherent to greyhound racing, including wastage and live baiting," he said on Tuesday.
Mr Iemma urged the RSPCA to participate. "My view is they should be involved," he said.
"Quite clearly the essential issue is animal welfare and they're the most respected organisation in this area. They should be involved to help shape the new regime and protection for the dogs.
"It would certainly add to the status of the taskforce. It's an opportunity for the RSPCA to make significant change. They should be at the table."
An RSPCA spokeswoman said on Wednesday that no decision had been made about joining the panel.
Mr Iemma said the panel's first meeting would be on Friday to discuss its terms of reference and timetable.
Asked if he supported the original decision to close the industry, Mr Iemma declined to comment.
He had started reading the report of the special commission of inquiry by former judge Michael McHugh into the greyhound industry whose conclusions prompted Mr Baird's original decision.
It found up to 68,000 greyhounds had been euthanised in the past 12 years because they were too slow or unable to race.
"I think it's a difficult task, there's no doubt," Mr Iemma said of the panel's job.
He said the panel's job was to devise "a way of working that allows the industry to sustain itself and at the same time deal with the quite horrific abuses ... that triggered the commission of inquiry".
