Agreement reached to allow COVIDSafe Royal Hobart Show to proceed

The Tasmanian Government has reached an agreement to ensure the 2021 Royal Hobart Show can proceed at the Hobart Showground from 20th to 24th October 2021 with a cap on show attendees, and the need for the The Royal Agricultural Society of Tasmania to achieve a financially acceptable event.

The Royal Agricultural Society of Tasmania (RAST) thanked the Tasmanian Government for their efforts to support the Royal Hobart Show in October, despite COVID-19 restrictions.

Showgoers will notice very little difference to their Show experience which this year is being planned as a very special Show to mark 200 years of agricultural exhibiting in Hobart.

RAST has agreed the Show can proceed with a cap on attendances, imposed by the Health Department, in return for Government support which will go some way towards alleviating the financial loss due to the daily cap of 5,000 showgoers.

Through financial assistance of $250,000, as well as in-kind assistance from the Tasmanian Government, the 200th Hobart Show will be supported to be delivered safely, in line with the Framework for COVID-19 Safe Events and Activities.

Tasmanian Minister for Community Services and Development, Jeremy Rockliff advised “like many other events, our shows have been impacted by the ongoing challenges of COVID-19, with many cancelled in 2020 and 2021, and it is fantastic that we have secured the Hobart Show for 2021.”

The 2021 Hobart Show will also benefit from a grant of $50,000 to Tasmanian Agricultural Shows for hygiene and patron management equipment, to be made available to agricultural show societies and similar events.

RAST Chief Executive, Scott Gadd advises “we have been encouraging cooperative engagement with government agencies for some months, as occurred in NSW, to help plan a COVIDSafe Show that works for everyone. In the last few days, the Premier and Deputy Premier have become involved, and we’re grateful for their decisive steps to ensure a safe show can proceed without debilitating financial losses to the Society.

“We have been planning for a special Show since early this year to celebrate 200 years of agricultural showing. It will be the first time in Australia that an agricultural show has reached this milestone.

“Showgoers can expect to enjoy a great experience, based around top entertainment and a memorable celebration of 200 years of agricultural showing. There will be all the usual attractions such as carnival rides and showbags to augment great family entertainment, and community and animal competitions, food, and things to see, do, and experience.

Gadd adds “we have agreed a cap for the four day show of 30,000 patrons, and while this will be less than the usual show attendances of 40,000 or more, it means a full and substantial show program can proceed. We would urge show goers to purchase their tickets online as a CovidSafe measure, and will extend the early bird on-line discount to encourage this.

“Given the crowd cap on attendances at the Show, and taking into account the Government’s welcome support, our books will still show a loss for this year’s event. But our community volunteers have already put in a big effort in preparing for the Show, and we’re delighted to be mounting what will be a highly memorable 200 year event. It will be a fitting tribute to the generations of Tasmanians who have built the Show into the icon it is today.

“Tasmanian agricultural shows have been decimated over the last two years because of the complex COVID restrictions placed upon them.  Tasmania’s regional agricultural shows are an incredibly important part of the fabric of our decentralised state, and as we approach 2022, we shall be again encouraging a much closer working relationship with Government agencies to ensure the survival of agricultural shows into next year.

The State Government’s support is in addition to the recent announcement of nearly $250,000 from the Agricultural Show Development Grants Program, helping support the sustainability of agricultural show societies by funding important community infrastructure.

Minister Rockliff added “we thank the Royal Agricultural Society of Tasmania for all their assistance in ensuring the Hobart Show can go on for 2021, and encourage Tasmanians to buy a ticket and support this important community event.”

The only major difference to a normal show year is that showgoers will now need to book sessions this year. Each session will be limited to 5,000 show goers.

• Wednesday 20th October will consist of one, day long session.

• Thursday 21st October (public holiday) will consist of a morning and afternoon session, with the day extended until 7.00pm

• Friday 22nd October will consist of two sessions, with the second session extending into the evening, with the traditional fireworks to end the day

• Saturday 23rd October will consist of a one day session.

Image courtesy Discover Tasmania