Ken O'Dowd (Flynn, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The steaks are sizzling, the whips are cracking and the atmosphere is buzzing for beef week in Rockhampton. Beef Australia 2018 officially opened today, and two of our members from this House will be there to open the show. It was a wet start on Monday. It unofficially opened on Sunday. There was a wet start, but it didn't deter 25,000 people from coming through the gates. Country people just love rain. It's Australia's biggest beef expo. It'll go from 6 to 11 May. 2018 marks 30 years of beef week. It's held triennially. There are 40 countries and 90,000 delegates. Beef contributes about $75 billion to the economies of Central Queensland. The federal government has kicked in $3 million for the event. There are three cattle competitions involving 4,300 cattle, with over 2,000 in stud events, 1,700 in commercial cattle and 158 carcass entries. It will well serve the trade for the fair exhibitors.