Popular show dudded by ‘joke’ criteria

A TASMANIAN agricultural show society has had its hopes of building new infrastructure dashed by Federal Government grant-eligibility criteria that Lyons MP Brian Mitchell has labelled a joke.

The Brighton Show is one of the biggest shows on the calendar but its has been deemed to be too close to Hobart to qualify for a grant of up to $500,000 under the Federal Government’s $20 million fund to bolster agricultural events across Australia.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the fund at this year’s Burnie Show.

The Devonport Show is no longer running and Launceston has been cut back to one

HELEN KEMPTON

day from two. Mr Mitchell said the Brighton Show committee was looking forward to applying for funding to help with its long-planned facelift of its facilities at its Pontville Showground.

The funding model is based on ABS data which includes Brighton in the Greater Hobart area.

Brighton Show president Geoff Jackson said the show wanted to build more sheds to house animals and displays.

“We class ourselves as a country event as do the 18,000 people who came through the gate last year,” he said.

“Because Brighton is on the outskirts of Hobart, we miss out on applying for funding while Launceston and Burnie, classified as cities, do not. We are the only show in Tasmania to miss out. We are run by volunteers and our logo is ‘a little bit of country’.”

Mr Mitchell will be campaigning for the grant zoning rules to be changed so the Brighton Show does not miss out due to its proximity to the capital.

“According to the Morrison Government, the Brighton Show is not rural enough to be eligible for funding under its Agriculture Show Community Grants program,” he said.

“The Brighton show is the biggest and most traditional agricultural show you will find, with sheep, cattle and goats and the wares of the CWA major attractions each year. To claim Brighton is less rural than Launceston is a joke.”