Show society president slams Tasmania’s restrictive health rules

A frustrated agricultural show chief has labelled Tasmania’s health restrictions “illogical” as events are cancelled here while the Royal Perth Show welcomes 60,000 through the gate a day.

TASMANIA’S strict Covid-19 restrictions have been called “illogical” as the Royal Perth Show welcomes up to 60,000 visitors a day while the Tasmanian events industry crumbles.

Agricultural Shows Tasmania CEO Scott Gadd said WA’s freedoms highlighted the stark difference between how health agencies in different states are handling the pandemic.

While the Royal Hobart Show will go ahead – unlike the Burnie, Brighton, Launceston and Circular Head shows – attendances are capped and the event will run at a loss for the first time in its history.

Mr Gadd said Tasmania’s “illogical” Covid-19 restrictions were wrecking the events industry

“The Royal Perth Show is currently underway in WA with a crowd cap of 60,000 visitors a day. Next month’s Royal Hobart Show has been capped by local health officials at 30,000 visitors over four days,” Mr Gadd said.

Royal Hobart Show Day 2: Royal Hobart Show CEO Scott Gadd speaks about his expectations on the second day of the show Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

“Masks are not required for people attending the Perth show. Masks have been mandated for those attending the Royal Hobart Show next month.”

Mr Gadd said Tasmania and WA were in a similar Covid-19 position with closed borders and no active cases of he virus.

“Tasmanian Government ministers publicly admit there is no coronavirus in Tasmania.,” Mr Gadd said.

“Yet they are using a plan made for a worst case outbreak scenario to close down events, instead of a scalable framework that can be tightened or loosened as the situation changes.

“The Tasmanian events industry is still trying to understand why a special arrangement was made to host 10,000 people at an AFL match in Launceston, while other events are restricted to just 5000.

Junior Interbreed Champion and Supreme Exhibit, handler Emily Loane and Dunroan Murial the 49th of Latrobe at the Burnie Show. PICTURE CHRIS KIDD

“Yet they are using a plan made for a worst case outbreak scenario to close down events, instead of a scalable framework that can be tightened or loosened as the situation changes.

“The Tasmanian events industry is still trying to understand why a special arrangement was made to host 10,000 people at an AFL match in Launceston, while other events are restricted to just 5000.

“Our best wishes to the AFL for achieving this, but the inconsistency of Government health orders is creating winners and losers in our Tasmanian events industry.”

He said the health response to Covid in Tasmania needed urgent review.

“We have 23 agricultural shows across every part of Tasmania due to be held next year, starting in February. Some of them have been cancelled for two years, and as we approach the end of this year we have no idea if they can proceed in 2022,” he said.

Organisers of the Circular Head Show this week canned the 112th event – earmarked for November 27 – saying the current Covid-19 restrictions and the changing pandemic situation meant they had no alternative.

And while Burnie residents are enjoying a public holiday on Friday there is no agricultural show to attend. The last was held in 2019 when Prime Minister Scott Morrison visited and hailed the important of the annual agricultural showcases.

There are fears some cancelled events might never be held again.

Originally published as Show society president slams Tasmania’s restrictive health rules