Carnell's Mismanagement Puts Floriade On The Slippery Slide

Wayne Berry - Opposition Spokesperson on Tourism

Media Statement - 23 July 1999

The chair of the Canberra Tourism and Events Corporation has confirmed Kate Carnell's announcement that Floriade is to be wound back Labor's Tourism spokesperson Wayne Berry said today.

"This morning on ABC radio the CTEC chairperson announced that the night sessions of Floriade have been cancelled to save $100,000. This follows the Chief Minister's announcement during the ACT Legislative Assembly's Estimates Committee hearings that annual Floriade could be wound back.

"All of this stems from the disastrous Floriade fee debacle of 1998 which has now forced the Floriade to run with an $800,000 revenue shortfall from last year.

"The 1998 Floriade was run on impossible revenue expectations from the flawed fee proposal which in the end badly scarred our magnificent flower festival.

"We are now experiencing the bitter fruits of Kate Carnell's mismanagement of our premier tourism festival with the beginning beginnings of the wind down of Floriade.

"The Floriade is being reduced to the level of the Bruce Stadium debacle, the $4 million lost hospice arising from the bungled Kingston/Acton and swap, and the list is growing. How much more can the Territory stand," Mr Berry concluded.