Multiple rodeos and bull riding events have been held throughout the Northern Rivers including Byron Bay, Evans Head, and Murwillumbah with an upcoming ‘Cowboys in Coffs’ this Saturday.
Multiple issues have been raised over the rodeos throughout the region from animal cruelty to the fact that they take place on public land.
Animal cruelty
One key issue that has been repeatedly raised is how the animals are handled and provoked into ‘performing’.
‘These spectacles are brutal and violent, designed solely for human entertainment, and are terrifying for the animals, many of which suffer repeated trauma week in and week out as they are loaded, unloaded and trucked around the state,’ said Lisa Ryan, Animal Liberation’s Regional Campaigns Manager.
‘These animals are tormented and forced to perform unnatural behaviours for the price of a ticket, with the aid of goading, deliberate provocation, being separated from their herd, and cruel devices like flank straps, spurs and electric jiggers. We’re asking people to choose not to fund animal suffering.’
Animal Liberation, Australia’s longest running animal rights organisation has been actively opposing and campaigning against rodeos, rodeo schools and bull riding events for decades, including documenting and filming events to raise public awareness about the practices; and is continuing to demand a complete ban on what it describes as, ‘government sanctioned legalised animal abuse’.
Exemptions under review
‘In NSW, rodeo events still rely on legal exemptions under the state’s animal welfare laws, that allow animal handling practices that would otherwise be prosecuted as cruelty to animals. These exemptions are currently under review along with other animal welfare considerations, in a draft Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Regulations 2025, with the current 2012 Regulations due for repeal on 1 February 2025,’ explained Ms Ryan.
‘In mid 2023, our successful NSW government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (GIPA) application to RSPCA NSW validated our ongoing claims about the inherent and systemic cruelty associated with rodeo events. Footage and images captured by Animal Liberation at the Rodeo Association of Moruya Inc’s 2023 New Year’s Day rodeo event was referred to RSPCA NSW for investigation, including footage of an injured steer who had its right horn torn, almost to the base of its head’
The GIPA results confirmed RSPCA NSW issued two (2) infringements for breaches of the NSW Code of Practice for animals used in rodeo events (COP) which occurred at the 2023 NYD Moruya rodeo.
Crown land used for rodeos
The fact that public and crown land are used for the rodeo events from local parks as in Evans Head to showgrounds like the event in Murwillumbah has been raised as an issue as those opposed to rodeos say this is not the best use of land set aside for public use.
‘The Red Devils park venue for the Byron Bay J&J rodeo bull riding event is actually crown land, and is supposed to be managed by the NSW government in the public interest,’ said Ms Ryan.
‘Crown land is intended to play a central role in creating community life and wellbeing by providing public open space and green space. Using this land for legalised animal abuse is abhorrent, and we’re calling on the responsible Minister and local councillors to intervene and end this appalling use of crown land.’
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