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Prime Minister Scott Morrison has backed the thoroughbred breeding industry, declaring horse racing a crucial part of Australian culture.

Mr Morrison was joined by MPs from all sides of politics at Parliament House in Canberra to rally behind the industry in an event organised by Thoroughbred Breeders Australia and the Parliamentary Friends of Primary Producers.

“It is a fair dinkum, very serious business and industry,” Mr Morrison said. “It is one that provides significant economic and employment opportunities especially for rural and regional Australia.”

He pledged to help ensure the breeding industry remained a crucial part of the country’s fabric with ongoing drought support.

TBA chief executive Tom Reilly was delighted at the response to the event.

“We come to Parliament House to talk about breeding and share the industry’s story and we had all sides of politics line up to pledge their support for what we do,” said Mr Reilly.

“It is testament to the fact that breeding and racing are truly part of the fabric of Australian society that so many politicians are here tonight.”

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten, who has both Flemington and Moonee Valley racecourses within his electorate, said his side of politics heard the industry “loud and clear” on issues like drought relief and labour shortages.

“I understand that in this industry for a small number of people we need to bring in people from overseas,” the Labor leader said.

“We don’t have the skills here, we don’t have the people here that we need to have a visa system that brings people in.”

The Australian breeding industry is the second largest in the world, with an interim economic report showing breeding alone sustained almost 9,500 jobs across the nation.

The broader racing industry contributes over $8.5 billion to the national economy, according to the same research, and is responsible for some 69,000 full time jobs in Australia.

Deputy Prime Minister and keen racing fan Michael McCormack attended, along with Deputy Nationals Leader Bridget McKenzie, Agriculture Minister David Littleproud and Special Drought Envoy Barnaby Joyce, Labor senator Anthony Chisholm and Liberal MPs Tony Pasin, Warren Entsch and Nicole Flint.