The Federal Government's decision to re-prioritise $14 million in funding for Agricultural Shows has been met with diverse judgement.

The $14 million was to be allocated for a second round of the Regional Agriculture Shows Development Grants Program, of which a number of local shows in the Parkes Electorate had already benefited from more than $1.6 million in the first round.

The decision was confirmed in the Federal Government's budget estimates hearings earlier this month.

Federal Member for the Parkes Electorate, Mark Coulton, has slammed the government's decision to re-direct the funds, declaring that the Labor government do not prioritise rural and regional Australia.

"We already know Labor has taken billions away from the regions, scrapping water and major infrastructure commitments,” Mr Coulton said.

“But now they are cruelly taking away the Regional Agricultural Shows Development Grants Program funding.

Agricultural show committees continue to involve multiple generations in their communities. PHOTO M COULTON.

“This was money to improve infrastructure for agricultural shows in the Parkes electorate," he said.

“The Labor Government needs to explain why it doesn’t prioritise regional and rural Australia. It has abandoned our regional communities and taken much-needed infrastructure away," said Mr Coulton.

Minister for Agriculture Murray Watt, however, explained the government's decision was to escalate critical biosecurity matters.

"The previous Ag Show funding was largely about helping shows survive COVID-19, and that challenge has now been overtaken by other priorities."

"This year Australia has faced a number of increased biosecurity threats, including foot and mouth disease which, if they were to reach our shores, would have a significant impact on our Ag industry."

"By prioritising biosecurity in the Agriculture Budget, we are protecting the industry and rural communities in the long term," he said.

However, AgShows NSW president Peter Gooch has questioned why the funding has been pulled at a time when regional Australia is facing extreme and direct threats from record-breaking floods.

Mr Gooch said a lot of facilities needed repairs from the significant rain and severe flooding.

"A lot of grounds that did get grants need repairs. It's very hard to get insurance," he told The Land.

While no additional funding for Ag Shows has been outlined in the Federal Government's budget, local shows in the Parkes Electorate who have already benefited from the program say they are very grateful.

Mark Coulton MP (bottom right) with members of Condobolin's Show Society. PHOTO SUPPLIED.

"We got a new sheep pavilion, cattle panels, a loading ramp, new seating and an upgrade to our poultry pavilion," admitted Mendooran's PAH&I Association's Secretary, Louise Monk.

"We just appreciate getting funding for anything and we've all been pretty lucky in what we've gotten so far," she said.

Coonamble Show also benefited from funding in Round 1 of the Regional Agriculture Shows Development Grants Program.

"We're extremely grateful for the grants that we received, but at the same time you would have to say it's disappointing for all the other shows that didn’t get on the first round of funding like we did," said Coonamble Show's President, Henry Moxham.

"For the shows that might have had plans to upgrade in the future, it's definitely disappointing for them," he said.

For more information about the latest Budget decisions regarding the Agriculture industry, click here