Show societies say Dinosaur Festival Australia is 'legitimate' as allegations taint upcoming events

Dinosaur Festival Australia has been advertising events, including one in Wagga Wagga in NSW's Riverina region, on social media since last year.

However, some Facebook users have questioned its legitimacy following negative media coverage and what the organiser has described as an online "attack".

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The exhibit, which promises "18 breathing, blinking, tail-swaying and roaring animatronic dinosaurs", is booked to visit several cities and regional centres over the coming months, including Wagga, Coffs Harbour and Gosford in norther NSW. It has already visited Toowoomba in southern Queensland.

General secretary of the Wagga Show Society Greg Pritchard said once he was aware of the rumours, he reached out to the Toowoomba show team to inquire whether they or their attendees had any complaints.

"It's definitely legit, people are going to it, and the guy I spoke to from Toowoomba said that it seems this kind of social media thing about it being not legitimate tends to follow it around," Mr Pritchard said.

"They've paid their deposit, they've sent through their certificate of currency for insurance, so to us, they are makers of a legitimate event."

Chief executive officer at Royal Agricultural Society of Queensland Damon Phillips said over the three days the event was in Toowoomba it was "well set up" and "well supported by the community".

"After the event, we didn't get one complaint at all from anyone that had gone to it," Mr Phillips said.

"If you spend your time using it as an educational event where you can actually learn something, then I certainly think it's worthwhile."

The initial controversy was stirred during Dinosaur Festival's launch in Brisbane last year as the exhibit was promoted ahead of the venue confirming the organisers had booked it.

Dinosaur Festival director David Huni said that some venues have cancelled their bookings due to allegations circulating online which has affected his business across Australia, Canada and South Africa where his business headquarters are situated.

"When we launched in Brisbane [in 2020], we put up a post on Facebook that a dinosaur exhibition is coming," Mr Huni said.

"Then somebody came on online, and I was told by my team that they were saying this is a scam, asking 'what is your ABN number?' 'Who is the person behind this?' 'This is a hoax'.

"Then, within three days it went viral."

Mr Huni said that he will continue to bring his exhibits to locations across Australia over the next few years despite the accusations, offering free tickets to schools so that students can learn about dinosaurs.

"I love this work passionately, and I feel like I'm in Australia every time I'm checking in, making bookings, talking to customers and talking to suppliers," he said.

"We are bringing people a premium product at a very affordable price ... and have been creating employment opportunities during this pandemic."