The NSW State Government has abandoned the Sydney Christmas Parade by refusing financial support or assistance to help stage this important event for the people of Sydney. The Parade has now been cancelled.
Mr Anthony Mead is the event organiser and Trustee of the Sydney Christmas Parade Trust. He has written to various Ministers and met with various authorities including the Premier’s Advisor seeking some support in providing Sydneysiders Christmas cheer. Mr Mead had organised a large number of community groups and charities to be involved, including thousands of volunteers and children. They are understandably devastated at the cancellation of the Parade this year, with many young children, who had rehearsed as dancers, performers, singers, now to miss out on this wonderful event.
“The Premier was prepared to pay well over a million dollars for Breakfast on the Bridge for 6,000 participants (while inconveniencing many more), but won’t support a Christmas Parade that is open to all, has attracted 250,000 live spectators and had guaranteed international TV coverage” said Mr O’Dea, Chairman of WasteWatch.
“There are many other events that the NSW Government assists, including by waiving hundreds of thousands of dollars in fees and charges, but it won’t do the same for this Parade” he said.
“On Friday I moved a Motion in Parliament condemning the NSW Government’s lack of support. The Parade organisers are only asking for what other events, such as Brian Eno’s visit and the Mardi Gras, receive from the NSW Government.
“The Variety Run which was to be held on the same day as the Parade, will still be going ahead, with Government assistance. It is very difficult to fathom how this Government allocates taxpayers’ money, especially when they waste millions of dollars on project mismanagement and unnecessary bureaucracy. What are their priorities?
“Why doesn’t Rees the Scrooge give support for this Christmas event that brings much joy to hundreds of thousands of people, particularly children?
“If there is a ghost in Parliament House, as reported, he’s sure to visit Premier “Scrooge” Rees this Christmas,” Mr O’Dea concluded.
