- Mt Isa Rodeo has gone into voluntary administration
- The famous four-day event has been going for 65 years
Controversial animal rights group PETA has come up with a radical plan to save Australia’s biggest rodeo by banning bulls and bucking broncos – and replacing them with people riding hobby horses.
The Mount Isa Rodeo has attracted cowboys and cowgirls from around the world, who have travelled to the remote Queensland town to compete in a four-day event for the past 65 years.
However, on Monday it was announced that the event has gone into voluntary administration.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals wrote to rodeo chairperson Rowena McNally and administrators SV Partners this week to offer their radical way of keeping the event alive.
‘For example, a mechanical bull championship could replace bull riding and hobby horses could be used in barrel riding,’ the letter read.
‘Instead of traumatising and crippling baby animals with calf roping, competitors could instead ride electric bikes as they attempt to lasso remote control cars steered by their opponents.’
PETA maintains bulls that feature in rodeos are abused by being given electric shocks before they compete, and that calves suffer choking and spinal damage during roping events.
The group told rodeo organisers to ‘end this national disgrace for good’.
Mt Isa’s rodeo attracts about 25,000 visitors to the outback Queensland town each year, generating $7.4million for the local economy.
On Monday, event organisers made the shock announcement that SV Partners directors Michael Brennan and David Stimpson had been appointed as voluntary administrators.
Mr Brennan said it offered a chance to restructure the rodeo’s operations and financial arrangements.
He hoped it was not the end of the event, but rather a second chance to secure its future by restructuring and reinvigorating this annual community festival.
‘Both the Mount Isa Mines Rodeo and Mount Isa Mines Indigenous Rodeo Championships are iconic and important events for communities across the North West,’ he said.
‘The Rodeo attracts both local and international competitors, along with tourists, who bring significant economic benefits to the region each year.
‘Mt Isa, known as ‘Australia’s Rodeo City,’ is deeply rooted in the country’s cowboy heritage.
‘We’re working to preserve the rodeo as it’s a vital part of Australia’s rich outback history.’
The decision to enter voluntary administration came after event organisers faced financial pressures, including lower-than-expected ticket sales for 2024.
Rodeo chair Rowena McNally told the ABC last month the event was cash-strapped and they were not sure if it would continue.
‘We managed to operate through Covid with a virtual rodeo, but since then our reserves have been depleted so we’ve had to look at how to cut costs and building up a surplus,’ she said.
‘We’ve got enough in the bank to pay the bills we’ve currently got but I can’t say that will be the case next week.
‘We’re certainly looking closely at our finances and getting advice on what we need to do.’
