All NT regional shows cancelled, raising question of whether public holidays should still go ahead

ALL of the Territory’s regional shows have been cancelled because of coronavirus, raising the question of whether or not their gazetted public holidays should still go ahead.

Jayden Mick, 12 at last year’s Royal Darwin Show. Picture: Keri Megelus

ALL of the Territory’s regional shows have been cancelled because of coronavirus, raising the question of whether or not their gazetted public holidays should still go ahead.

It will be the first time in 69 years the Royal Darwin Show has not been held.

Royal Darwin Show Society’s chief executive Cherie Court said not even a miracle change in the coronavirus situation could save this year’s Territory regional shows.

“All the indications are that restrictions are not going to be eased in any meaningful way for quite a number of months,” Ms Court said.

“It takes months to organise these shows and that can’t be done very quickly.”

Ms Court said the NT Government’s social spacing restrictions made it impossible for any of the regional shows to go ahead.

“This would have been our 69th year and as far as I’m aware it will be the first time it does not go ahead,” she said.

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The Alice Springs Show has gone uninterrupted for 60 years and the Katherine and District Show Society would have been celebrating the event’s 55th year.

The Alice Springs Show was scheduled for July 2, the Tennant Creek Show for July 9, the Katherine Show for July 17 and the Royal Darwin Show for July 23.

Chamber of Commerce NT acting chief executive Greg Ireland said given the public holidays were designated specifically because of the show events, the question needed to be asked if those public holidays should still go ahead.

“I know everyone will be upset if I said the public holidays should now not go ahead, but it’s no secret that the Chamber’s position has always been one that anything that reduces overhead for businesses, such as those caused by public holidays, should be looked at,” he said.

“It’s show day and there is no show, so there is an argument for it to just be a normal work day without the impact of holiday penalty rates.”

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Chief Minister Michael Gunner said Territorians would keep their public holidays.

“This has been a tough time and everyone’s earned the day off,” he said.

“It will be ‘no show day’, and let’s make it count.

“Instead of a show bag, visit a local shop. Instead of a dagwood dog, grab some local takeaway.”