Tempers flare at testy Taste debate

HOBART Lord Mayor Sue Hickey says the council could consider pulling the funding it gives to Dark Mofo’s Winter Feast if the State Government does not come on board with more money for the Taste of Tasmania.

Hobart aldermen last night discussed the Taste of Tasmania report for the first time in an at-times heated meeting.

It heard the council spent more than $1 million of ratepayers’ money on the 2016-17 Taste and recommended the council asks the Government for more than $250,000 in cash and in-kind support for the 2017-18 event.

Ald Hickey said it was vital the Government got behind the event, especially considering it provided $2.1 million to Dark Mofo.

She said if the Government did not come on board, the council should consider its own funding of the Winter Feast and look at putting the money into the Taste.

“If we are going to be donating $300,000 to [David Walsh] for Dark Mofo for the Winter Feast, then going to the State Government for $250,000 seems fair,” Ald Hickey said.

“If they don’t, then maybe we should put that $300,000 into the Taste.

“Dark Mofo already gets $2.1 million from the State Government.”

Last year, the council provided $300,000 to Dark Mofo. This year it provided $200,000 and will do the same next year, made up of $150,000 in cash and $50,000 of in-kind support.

The Government has said it would need a business case to consider more funding for Taste.

It says it provided $150,000 in support for the most recent event.

During an at-times testy meeting, Ald Hickey and Ald Marti Zucco clashed over the recent success of the event.

The report said revenue was down by $270,000 to $1.765 million because of reduced attendance and less than anticipated bar and stallholder sales and decreased sponsorship.

Ald Zucco read from an opinion piece he wrote in the Mercury in 2012 in which he said he forecast the Taste’s struggles and said the decision to look at it being “cost neutral” had damaged the event.

“The council has stuffed up the Taste,” he said. “You [Ald Hickey] are the cause of what has happened over the last two years.”

Ald Hickey was quick to reject the claim.

“Sit down and behave,” she said.

“It was a great festival [2016-17] except for the weather, but no one could have gone through the rain we did.

“Under the circumstances we did a great job.”

An amendment proposed by Ald Jeff Briscoe in the earlier special community, culture and events committee meeting for the council to investigate the characterisation of money lost on the Taste to be treated as a “grant”, similar to other festivals and events, was scrapped in full council.

Meanwhile, Brooke Webb, formerly of the Sydney Opera House, has been appointed as festival producer of the Taste of Tasmania for the next three years.

Ald Anna Reynolds said she hoped Ms Webb could bring something different to the event.

“Festivals need to be fresh,” she said.

At the Sydney Opera House, Ms Webb helped deliver the renowned Vivid Live event — an annual contemporary music festival held at the iconic building as part of Vivid Sydney.