State government must ensure funding for events
Regional Victoria’s iconic field days and ag shows are hanging by a thread, writes Emma Kealy.
COVID restrictions shut down most shows last year, leaving many thousands of dollars out of pocket and with no option to recoup the costs.
These events promote the profitability and productivity of our farmers and farm businesses, connecting them with each other and acting as a one-stop-shop for the very best in new equipment and techniques.
But despite this unrivalled opportunity and the huge economic injection they give local communities, the Andrews Labor Government has largely ignored them.
Some of our most iconic events have missed out entirely.
Like so many things last year, Hamilton’s Sheepvention, which normally runs in August, could not run due to COVID restrictions.
It was a noticeable absence for people like myself and the thousands of others who attend every year.
We were dealt another blow when, earlier this year, organisers made the difficult decision to cancel this year’s event.
Instead they are running a new event, Sheep Connect, across two days, including a conference and ram sale/trade show.
Due to the sheer scale of Sheepvention and the enormous upfront costs that come with it, plus the lack of guaranteed support from government if things went pear-shaped, the committee made the call early to avoid the huge financial burden they would bear if they decided to go ahead only to cancel at the 11th hour.
The Wimmera Machinery Field Days committee was in the same position, and made the difficult call last winter to cancel this year’s event.
The kicker is that if these events had access to government funding, they likely would have run in 2021.
And, as we’ve seen with the loosening of restrictions over the past few months, these events could have run in a somewhat “normal” capacity.
But the lack of certainty and confidence in the management of the COVID situation here in Victoria forced organisers’ hands and dashed farmers hopes.
The flow-on benefits for these events cannot be underestimated.
Not only are they a connection point for people and businesses in the ag industry — something that is even more important now after the isolation created through COVID — but they attract people to spend time and money in rural areas, they employ teams of staff to manage and run them, and they offer fundraising opportunities for local clubs.
These events represent millions of dollars in value to local communities. They deserve our support.
The State Government has recognised the value of events like conferences and exhibitions through grant streams to help businesses cover the associated costs.
It’s time the Government realised how crucial these events are for our agricultural and rural communities.
Ahead of this week’s State Budget, the Government must ensure events like the Wimmera Machinery Field Days and Sheepvention have the funding and thus the certainty they need to be able to continue to be a fixture in our local communities for many years to come.
● Emma Kealy is the Nationals MP for Lowan
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