THE HON. GREG HUNT MP
Federal Member for Flinders
Minister for Health and Aged Care
THE HON. DAVID LITTLEPROUD MP
Deputy Leader for the Nationals
Minister for Agriculture and Northern Australia
JOINT MEDIA RELEASE
Show societies and field day organisers can apply for one off payments under the $21 million second round of the Morrison Government’s Supporting Agricultural Shows and Field Days program from 28 January 2022 to 17 February 2022.
Grants from $10,000 to $70,000 will be available for eligible show societies and field day organisations to help cover significant financial losses over the past two consecutive years due to events being cancelled because of COVID-19.
Federal Member for Flinders, the Hon. Greg Hunt MP said the support would have a greater impact than just dollars and cents.
“Agricultural shows and field days are a great day out and provide the much-needed opportunity for communities to come together, catch up and support each other,” Minister Hunt said.
“These grants provide show societies and field day organisations with the confidence they need to go ahead and plan their events in 2022 and beyond.”
Minister for Agriculture and Northern Australia, the Hon. David Littleproud MP said the Supporting Agricultural Shows and Field Days program is a way to give show societies a much-needed cash injection after the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Agricultural shows and field days generate over $1 billion in sales for small businesses every year,” Minister Littleproud said.
“For some communities and charities, agricultural shows or field days are the financial boost they need to get them through the year.
“Not only are they essential for business, agricultural shows and field days provide a way for people to show off their latest innovations and technology, increasing productivity and profitability for all involved in the agriculture sector.”
Across Australia COVID-19 has forced the closure of more than 700 show and field day events since early 2020 and around 269 agricultural shows and field day events were cancelled in 2021.
Applicants will be able to claim for eligible expenditure incurred for events cancelled in the period from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, up to the maximum capped amounts listed in the following table:
| Grant groupings | Attendance numbers (2019 or 2018) | Maximum grant available (GST exclusive) |
| Small agricultural shows and field days | Up to 1,999 attendees | Up to $10,000 |
| Medium agricultural shows and field days | 2,000 to 4,999 attendees | Up to $15,000 |
| Large agricultural shows and field days | 5,000 attendees and up | Up to $70,000 |
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