Tasmanian show’s future uncertain after reporting lapses
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The Royal Launceston Show in Tasmania, Australia, risks losing its charitable status because it has not submitted required annual financial reports to the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission for 2024 and 2025.
The 153-year-old show cancelled its events in 2024, 2025, and 2026 due to financial difficulties and a lack of a suitable location. Failure to file these reports could lead to the Australian Taxation Office removing its tax concessions, which would worsen existing financial problems.
The show’s financial reports reveal growing operating losses, increasing from $205,935 in 2022 to $327,639 in 2023, and a reinstated debt of $80,334 from the ATO. An auditor previously questioned the show’s ability to continue operating, citing concerns about insolvency in 2019, though a lease agreement offered a possible solution. Despite the challenges, the Royal National Agricultural and Pastoral Society of Tasmania, which runs the show, says it is working to meet its financial reporting obligations.
Community members expressed hope for the show’s return, emphasizing its importance in bridging the gap between rural and urban communities and showcasing agricultural work. The Devonport Show, another Tasmanian country show, has been on hiatus since 2016, facing similar issues with costs and public support.
