Rising Melbourne Royal Show carnival prices a result of increased insurance costs for ride operators

With media reports advising of the rising costs of rides at the 2022 Melbourne Royal Show, carnival attractions operators having pointed put that increases are being driven by rising costs.

It was revealed yesterday that ride prices will rise from $6 to $8 for basic rides and that some larger rides are expected to rise from $20 to as much as $25.

However, carnival operator Damian De Jong, owner of Action Events told Melbourne’s The Age, said ride prices would be up this year as the sector battled rising insurance costs and increases across the board, from petrol to the fluffy toys used as sideshow prizes.

De Jong told The Age “everything’s going up … inflation is killing all of us.

“Our insurance has gone up 400% in the last two years (and) there’s only one insurer who will cover amusement rides in Australia.”

The Show is also having to grapple with the looming threat of foot and mouth livestock disease with staff working with Agriculture Victoria to minimise biosecurity risks, following the outbreak in Indonesia.

Victorian Agriculture Minister Gayle Tierney said there are 300 biosecurity officers across the state providing advice to people on how to minimise the risk of foot and mouth and other threats and was training 1200 staff.

Minister Tierney advised “I think having our agricultural shows come back provides an opportunity where the Victorian public can be become more educated on the biosecurity threats that we have in this state.”

Earlier this week, Melbourne Zoo also announced new protocols around the disease, including asking recent arrivals from Indonesia to wait 48 hours before visiting and those who live with any livestock, apart from horses, to stay away.

The Melbourne Royal Show is at the Melbourne Showgrounds from 22nd September to 2nd October.

Image: Crowds at the Melbourne Royal Show in 2018. Credit: RASV.