Tony Pasin (Barker, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Every year I attend most agricultural shows and field days in my electorate. These events bring families and farmers together, build community spirit and help bridge the divide between country and city. Unfortunately, almost all of them were cancelled this year on account of COVID-19. That's why our government has invested $34 million in grants to make sure they bounce back next year. Two months ago the government launched a package to reimburse eligible costs for shows and field days who had to cancel. In my electorate, there are 18 shows and show societies that will benefit directly from this funding: the Kapunda Show run by the Kapunda & Light Agricultural Society; the Coonalpyn Show run by the Coonalpyn & District Agricultural & Horticultural Society; the Murray Bridge Show; the Mil Lel Show; the Mount Pleasant Show; the Keith and Tintinara District Show Society; the Lions Club of Lucindale, that put on the fabulously successful South East Field Days; the Karoonda Farm Fair; the Riverland Field Days; the Millicent Agricultural and Horticultural Show; the Penola Show Society; the Naracoorte Pastoral and Agricultural Society; the Pinnaroo Show Society; the Loxton Agricultural and Horticultural Society; the Mount Gambier Show; the Kingston SE Show; the Callington Agricultural and Horticultural Society; and the Bordertown Spring Festival & Show. They are all beneficiaries of this program. I fear that, but for this program, they wouldn't have been able to survive this year, where they haven't been able to collect revenues because they haven't been able to have shows. I'm very pleased we'll see shows back—hopefully—in 2021.