What foot and mouth disease means for the Royal Melbourne Show

Royal Melbourne organisers are alert but not alarmed about FMD with a free ticket deal to entice families back to the showgrounds.

Concerns over foot and mouth disease will not derail plans for this year’s Melbourne Royal Show, organisers say.

FMD concerns were front of mind with Victoria’s chief veterinary officer Graeme Cooke providing reassurance that the show can go ahead on present expert analysis.

Melbourne Royal chief executive Brad Jenkins said at today’s launch of the 2022 event, there were contingency measures in place should the FMD threat escalate.

“We’re constantly monitoring and reviewing with Graeme and his team, and also Agriculture Victoria, to ensure we’ve got up-to-date, quality advice,” Mr Jenkins said.

“We’ve also got stringent biosecurity plans in place and they constantly get reviewed.”

The Victorian government confirmed $2 million will be spent on the Melbourne Show to cover free entry for all children aged 14 and younger.

A further $1.5 million to be allocated to regional shows across Victoria.

Mr Jenkins said organisers were aware of cost-of-living pressures and were thrilled about the free entry initiative.

“The announcement about kids being able to (attend for) free is just more incentive for people to come along, learn about agriculture and learn about where their food comes from,” he said.

“The show has always been about heightening awareness of agriculture.

“We’ve got a number of early bird offers prior to the show. Adult ticket are $45 but they’ll be 15 per cent off prior to the show.”

Victorian Agriculture Minister Gayle Tierney said the $3.5 million package was not just aimed at the Royal Melbourne Show but regional events as well.

“What we’re asking the pastoral societies that are eligible in the past for funding is to make applications,” Ms Tierney said.

“(Those applications) will be around free ticketing for young people.

“For example, with Sheepvention coming up, kids already get in free, so that means organisers will still be able to apply to the fund to work out ways in which they can revitalise attendance and other things.”

Live music will be a key feature of the 2022 Melbourne Royal Showwith organisers revealing a ‘Show After Dark’ series of concerts to attract twilight audiences.

Australian music stars including The Veronicas, Baker Boy, Sneaky Sound System and Havana Brown will perform at the Ascot Vale showgrounds as part of the live music line-up.