Overview
- After travel documents surfaced naming the Animal Husbandry Department, organisers withdrew an NOC request and said MLAs would travel at personal expense.
- Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the government is not funding the visit and described it as a personal trip by legislators.
- Animal Husbandry Minister K. Venkatesh stated his department is not organising the tour and cited a lack of budget for such travel.
- Initial statements from MLA C. Puttarangashetty had described a department-led study tour to Australia and New Zealand from 16 February to 3 March with roughly 14–22 participants, some with families.
- BJP leader R. Ashok urged the Speaker to stop the trip, alleging a link to the Congress leadership tussle, a claim the ruling camp has not confirmed.