Outback events receive funding injection to aid flood fightback

28 April 2026

Flood recovery efforts are kicking up the dust in Outback Queensland, with the Australian and Queensland Governments committing more than $282,000 to support 15 local events.

The Western Queensland Events Boost Fund aims to attract new visitors, increase tourism revenue and stimulate regional economies in nine flood affected local government areas badly impacted by last year's flood disaster.

Eligible LGAs include Barcoo, Boulia, Bulloo, Diamantina, Longreach, Murweh, Paroo, Quilpie and Winton.

Events being backed by the fund include:

  • Betoota Outback Desert Muster (Diamantina)
  • Betoota Races (Diamantina)
  • Desert Champions Way: Outback Camel Trail (Barcoo, Boulia, Diamantina, Winton) 
  • Dustarena Long Weekend (Winton)
  • Easter in Eromanga (Quilpie)
  • Festival of Outback Opera (Longreach, Winton) 
  • Longreach Show
  • Longreach Flyer’s Ball
  • Music in the Mulga (Bulloo)
  • Outback River Lights Festival (Paroo)
  • Shearer’s Shindig (Bulloo)
  • Stars of Charlotte Plains (Paroo)
  • Vision Splendid (Winton)
  • Wings on the Warrego (Murweh)
  • Yowah Opal Festival (Paroo)

To help organisers maximise their programs, a big marketing push will get underway to increase event awareness, more artists and performers will be added, and extra event infrastructure will be utilised to bring out the best of the bush.

With western Queensland relying heavily on the tourism dollar, the success of these events is crucial to help townships still hurting after the 2025 floods.

Tourism and Events Queensland are delivering the Western Queensland Events Boost Fund, which is part of a broader $2.14 million Tourism Industry Recovery Support Package for the region.

The package is funded by the Australian and Queensland Governments through the joint Commonwealth-state Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

Funding from the package is also going towards the tourism recovery advertising campaign, Outback Queensland. It’s Something Else, announced earlier this year and running till the end of June.

Additionally, a tourism recovery officer has been employed by the government to help councils and event organisers maximise the funding and opportunities available to them, and to grow their resilience for the future.