Rides to stop at regional Qld shows as carnies fight massive insurance hike

Desperate carnies will stop rides at shows across Queensland this weekend to show patrons what they’ll be missing if they’re forced out of business because of huge insurance hikes.

Amusement rides across the state will come to a standstill this weekend as carnies fight massive insurance hikes of up to 400 per cent.

Rides will stop at midday for 15 minutes on Saturday at shows in Brookfield, Gympie, Ipswich and Charleville in an attempt to highlight what patrons could miss out on if rising insurance premiums forced the more than 7000 workers out of the amusement industry.

For Brisbane-based fifth generation games and rides operator Lauren Langtree, a 400 per cent increase in her insurance costs could be the last straw.

“If there’s any more increase, I’m out of the kids’ rides business. So for the first time in five generations, I will close down completely and be looking for something else,” she said.

The lack of competition appeared to be a leading cause to the rising costs, with Ms Langtree saying there were only one or two companies offering insurance to the amusement industry.

“It’s being monopolised. They’re able to charge what they think is a good cost, but we’re not large Dreamworld entities that can cover that cost,” she said.

Lauren Langtree, with her two-year-old son Marlon at the Ipswich Show, fears she will be forced out of the business. Picture: Zak Simmonds

A recent report into the amusement industry by the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman confirmed there was an insurance crisis in the industry, saying “the clear and present danger is real”.

The solution recommended by the Ombudsman was for members of the industry to develop their own Discretionary Mutual Fund that would require a loan from the Federal Government.

However, after 14 months of co-operation, Australian Amusement, Leisure and Recreation Association President Shane McGrath said the government had “dropped the hammer” on them.

“We have ticked every box and jumped through every hoop the Liberal Government has asked of us to gain support – as we were advised the support would come if we followed the process, and yet it wasn’t included in the recent budget – and last week we received an official rejection,” he said.

Mr McGrath hoped the ride stop would help to save the industry from the brink.

“If we can’t gain support this will mean the end of the line for thousands of people who work in our industry,” he said.

“We all feel like they’ve (the government) taken us all for a ride.”