Let’s end the Moruya rodeos

Upate 6 April 2023

Unfortunately, on the 28th March 2023, 6 out of 9 Eurobodalla Shire councillors voted in favour of the Moruya rodeo license.

We want to thank everyone who spoke up for the animals who suffer at the hands of the Moruya rodeo. While this outcome is devastating, we want to assure you that our commitment to speaking up against rodeos and advocating for the protection of animals remains unwavering. We also know that a ban on rodeos is possible. Currently, rodeos are banned in Canberra under the ACT Animal Welfare Act 1992, as well as in the UK, and parts of Europe and America.

Speak up and stop the suffering and exploitation of animals in rodeos

Rodeo Association of Moruya Inc license is now on public exhibition

Eurobodalla Shire Council (ESC) has given public notice for its public exhibition and is accepting public feedback regarding council’s proposed intention to grant a licence for rodeo events, including a five-year licence to the Rodeo Association of Moruya Inc (the Association) within Lot 1 DP 1141031 Crown Reserve 580020, Moruya Showground.

This is our opportunity to speak up for the rodeo animals used, exploited and abused for spectator sports and human entertainment.

Submissions closed on 10 am, Tuesday 31 January 2023.

Image credit: Animals Uncovered

 

Compile and lodge a personal submission using our submission guide. We highly recommend you use this to inform your own individual submission, drawing on any experiences or insights you might have, to provide a response written in your own words.

You can reach out and email us if you have any questions or need further assistance in sending your submission.

You can also lodge your submission via:

The issues with the Moruya rodeo

The Moruya rodeo has been running for around 50 years. Historically, ESC decision-makers have been approving ongoing rodeo licence agreements for the Association with questionable decision-making practices, and negligible public transparency.

The current Council approved licence agreement (PDF) (commenced 1 December 2017 and expired 30 November 2022), and includes an additional 12-month ‘holding over period’ to the Association, effectively leasing a parcel of crown (community) land in the showgrounds for a financial payment, to allow the Association to run rodeo events. So, while the most recent licence agreement expired on 30 November 2022, the Association’s licence holding over period will cover a scheduled Moruya rodeo event on 1 January 2023, effectively confirming the licence agreement is for a six-year, rather than the publicly stated five-year period.

Shamefully, while the most recent Council approved licence agreement includes numerous conditions such as indemnity for breaches of environmental law, the licence fails to include a single reference to any NSW animal welfare and protection legislation, including legislation specifically applicable to rodeos, including the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979 (‘POCTAA’), the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Regulation 2012, and the Code of Practice for Animals Used in Rodeo Events.

Appallingly, ESC has confirmed its intention to hold the New Year’s Day 2023 rodeo event under the current licence agreement conditions which fail to include any animal welfare and animal protection requirements.

There is nothing entertaining about watching animals being tormented and abused in rodeos to provoke un-natural behaviours for human entertainment. Historical evidence and expert veterinary and animal welfare opinion confirms rodeo events are cruel and cause significant physical and psychological pain, suffering and fear, stress, injuries and death. Rodeo animals have been known to run headfirst into the arena walls in an attempt to escape.

Injuries can include abrasions, extreme soreness, bruising and damage to soft tissue including the neck area, windpipe, larynx and trachea, as well as soreness to muscle and tendons, and fractured and broken bones, necks, backs and legs. Injuries can also result in rodeo animals being killed as serious injuries render them unsuitable for future events.

Bucking is an instinctive response to fear, discomfort, stress and pain. In trying to flee the source of discomfort, pain and fear, in addition to verbal cries of anguish, other common signs of stress and fear can be witnessed through an animal’s facial expressions such as, excessive drooling of saliva, an open mouth, flared nostrils and ‘white-eye’.

Global concerns about animal welfare issues and cruelty, resulted in the Protection of Animals Act being updated to outlaw traditional rodeos in England, Scotland and Wales. Rodeos are also banned in parts of Europe and the US. In Australia, rodeos are banned in the ACT and calf roping events are banned in Victoria and South Australia because of the stress caused and risk of serious injury to these vulnerable and terrified young animals.

In spite of the claims made by rodeo organisers and rodeo industry bodies that all animals used in rodeo are unharmed and ‘treated like royalty’, there is no independent collation and review of injury records, making it impossible to know how prevalent injuries are, or if they are even assessed by a qualified and licenced veterinary practitioner. It is also important to note that that rodeos are not required to report animal injuries to a government department or any other relevant body in most Australian jurisdictions.

Because these events are often held in rural and regional areas, they are not effectively or independently monitored, and many incidents including animal welfare breaches can go un-detected and un-documented.

Similar to animals who merely exist in animal circuses, rodeo animals also suffer from their un-natural environments, confinement, long distance transport and being tormented and provoked into performing un-natural behaviours for human entertainment, sometimes for up to four times during each rodeo event.

For the sake of these sentient rodeo calves, cattle and horses, please help us to oppose the Eurobodalla shire Moruya rodeo, by taking the time to use our guide and lodge a personal submission with ESC by 10:00 AM, Tuesday 31 January 2023.