Animal exhibitors helped through COVID-19 pandemic

Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries The Honourable Mark Furner

The Palaszczuk Government has provided almost a quarter of a million dollars in grants to 34 businesses that exhibit animals to ensure they can maintain proper standards of care for their animals during the COVID-19 response.

Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries Mark Furner said throughout the COVID-19 emergency response, the state government had offered wide-ranging support to all manner of businesses struggling with the impacts of the virus.

“Queensland’s exhibited animal industry was no exception, with the challenges of caring for so many different animals during business closure restrictions,” Mr Furner said.

Through the Emergency Animal Welfare COVID-19 Exhibited Animal Assistance Program we especially wanted to support smaller operators, such as mobile exhibits and small-scale wildlife parks, which were not eligible for the larger funding packages.

“Since we opened the Program in June, we have made available $234,300 in support funds.

“This has allowed the operators to meet their animal welfare obligations and cover operational expenses throughout this difficult period.”

Mr Furner said support for a wide range of Queensland businesses and industries was playing an important role in economic recovery.

“We are continuing to manage the health response well and that means we can continue to deliver Queensland’s plan for economic recovery.”

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