False Advertising - What Has The Government Got Against Floriade?

Wayne Berry - Opposition Spokesperson on Tourism

Media Statement - 26 July 1999

Another bungle in the advertising of Floriade has been discovered in the wake of last week's 11th hour cancellation of evening sessions, Labor Tourism spokesperson Wayne Berry said today.

"Official Floriade advertising distributed around the country to the Tourism Industry shows the Floriade open to 9pm from Thursday to Saturday.

"And the Government's Tourism Internet Home Page confirms this.

"When the sequence of announcements is examined it begs the question 'What has Kate Carnell got against Floriade'.

• 1998 - Floriade fee introduced at the last minute with disastrous effect;
• 1999 - while the Tourism industry are busy marketing Floriade the Chief Minister drops the bombshell that the festival may only be held every second year;
• 1999 - the Government ends evening sessions at the 11th hour; and
• 1999 - the Government continues to advertise Floriade evening sessions.

"The Tourism industry is entitled to be hopping mad about the latest bungle when bookings have been made on the basis of the Government's advertising including their Tourism Home Page.

"The Tourism industry provides massive amounts of investment and jobs to the ACT economy and deserves more than ad-hoc decision making from the Chief Minister which threatens viability of their industry and employment opportunities in the ACT.