Hold the line

Boating Industry Association announces the cancellation of the Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide Boat Shows for 2020.

26 March 2020

It has been announced today The Board and Executive of the Boating Industry Association (BIA) has cancelled the Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide Boat Shows for 2020. The announcement comes after the BIA monitored developments related to COVID-19 in the public domain, and stayed in constant communication with government and members.

Last week, the BIA advised members that they would hold-off on making an announcement on the show dates for the Sydney and Brisbane shows, while setting up a contingency date for the Adelaide show in late September.

However, the rapid spread of the virus in Australia over the last seven days has seen that forecast change.

The BIA has informed exhibitors that they will be offered a refund of any deposits, in a statement released today by BIA President Darren Vaux.

“The progress of the spread of the virus over the last seven days has seen the forecasts change and based on the feedback from members and in the interests of certainty the Board has resolved to cancel the Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide Boat Shows for 2020.”

The BIA also revealed a number of initiatives to support and protect member prosperity:

Keep Australia Boating: we are communicating with both Federal and State politicians and departments to make sure that our message regarding the importance of continuing to service, maintain and protect the boating fleet and marine estate from a life safety, environmental protection and user physical and mental health point of view gets through.

Deciphering the constant updates to stimulus and protection packages that are being proposed by state and federal governments so that we can communicate and assist members in this regard.

Highlighting the benefits of boating at this time and re-enforcing the importance of using the appropriate social isolation protocols when boating in all its forms.

Mobilising a digital campaign to remind people about the joys and freedoms of boating now and into the future to support ongoing boating activity and the future recovery.

“We know that our membership is doing it very tough with this health crisis coming on the top of a difficult summer and we are applying all of our energy into limiting the restrictions on our industry while maximising the available government support,” continued the statement.

“We need to come together, support each other, follow the government directives and look after the most vulnerable in our industry and our community.”

bia.org.au

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