Queensland government bucks responsibility for animal cruelty at rodeos

The Queensland Government has refused to pursue breaches of animal welfare laws at rodeos, according to animal rights advocates.

Animal Liberation Queensland (ALQ) has released a compilation of video evidence showing what it claims are electric prodders being used illegally on horses at rodeo events.

Electric prodders are handheld devices designed to deliver a painful, high-voltage electric shock and are used on rodeo cattle and horses to provoke them into bucking or moving out of the chute.

The Queensland government officially declared use of electric prodders on horses an act of animal cruelty in August 2020, following an inquiry into animal cruelty in the management of retired racehorses.

ALQ Rodeo Campaign Director Gayle D'Arcy says their organisation submitted complaints to the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, but so far no action has been taken.

“The ones at Roma, the investigator told me that he had no doubt that the offences did occur, but that they couldn't establish the identity of the offenders. So in other words, the regulators have failed to regulate and they got away with it.”

D’Arcy says since the Roma Rodeo in 2021, ALQ has continued to report instances of prodders being used on horses to the department, but was told prosecution will not be pursued due to lack of evidence that the devices were switched on.

“You certainly get a strong impression that regulation of the rodeo industry is not high on their priorities.”

QUT News has contacted Queensland agriculture minister Mark Furner’s office for comment and has not received a response.

The Australian Veterinary Association is pushing for nationally consistent regulation of rodeos and adequate monitoring to ensure compliance with legislation, citing significant evidence of rodeo animals experiencing pain, injury, fear and distress.

ALQ is calling for a blanket ban on rodeos, hoping Australia follows the United Kingdom where rodeos have been banned since 1934 due to animal cruelty concerns.

“I sort of equate them to being successful con men because when people go to a rodeo, you know, you've got the happy announcers and you've got the happy music, and it's like the whole context gives people permission to, you know, enjoy animals being abused in front of their eyes," says D'Arcy.