On Tuesday, that change arrived in the form of a state government decision to overturn its controversial greyhound racing ban.

The industry will now face tougher scrutiny aimed at stamping out animal cruelty, which was exposed in the special commission of inquiry report that led to the original ban.

Although details of the new regime are yet to be finalised, Mr Crouch said after a “terrible” three months it felt like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders.

“I’m really happy about it,” he said. “At last common sense has prevailed, I hope.

“If it’s true, it’s a really good win for everybody in the industry and all the people of NSW who supported us.” 

Mr Crouch said the regime, which includes mandatory life bans and increased jail terms for live baiting offences, seemed “very much like what we [the industry] were going to do in the first place before he [Mr Baird] banned us”. 

“I’ve still got a gut feeling. I can’t trust him [Mr Baird] until it goes through [Parliament].”   

Industry veteran Julian Spiteri, whose ties to greyhounds span about 50 years, said the Premier had  “come to his senses”.

“Thank you,” Mr Spiteri said. 

“It [the ban] has affected so many people in the last three months, it’s been heartbreaking … and now he has come to his senses.”

Mr Spiteri welcomed the government’s move to ban those within the industry who do the wrong thing.

“He [Mr Baird] has woken up that not all people are bad,” he said.

“Punish the ones who do stupid things … ban them for life.”  His message for greyhound trainers was clear: “We’ve got the chance, let’s not blow it”.

Despite the positive announcement, Mr Spiteri questioned reports one of the government’s planned changes was a $1500 bond for every dog bred. 

“That’s slowly closing the game up anyway,” he said.