ONLY IF WE ... KEEP IT CLASSY GOLD COAST
Minister tells TV star to stand up for Queensland
TV identity Peter Deppeler – also known as ‘Intern Pete’ from the Kylie and Jackie Show walks the Logies red carpet with two mates in April this year. This is the event that host Dave Hughes reckons should stay in Melbourne because it is too ”classy” for the Gold Coast. “Keep the classy event in the classy city,” he said. Minister Kate Jones and Mayor Tom Tate beg to differ.
TOURISM Minister Kate Jones has questioned Karl Stefanovic’s Queensland loyalties after the Channel 9 star threatened to boycott the Logies if they moved to Queensland.
Ms Jones yesterday called on the outspoken TV host to help fight to secure the 2018 Logies for the Gold Coast after the Victorian Government withdrew its bid to host the event, claiming it was “time to pass on the baton”.
Ms Jones confirmed the Government was in talks with Bauer Media and Channel Nine to bring The Logies to Queensland – “particularly the Gold Coast” – and called on Stefanovic to help lock in a deal.
“I would say to Karl Stefanovic, ‘Karl, why don’t you stand up for your home state of Queensland and support the Logies bid here for Queensland?’,” she said.
“I think there’s an opportunity when you move an event like the Logies to another state to reshape that and the Gold Coast is known for being a beautiful location, a world-class location – we don’t want just gold medals on the Gold Coast – we want gold Logies as well.”
While cities around Australia are now queuing up for the chance to host Australian TV’s night of nights, celebs including Stefanovic and Dave Hughes, who has hosted The Logies for the past three years, aren’t happy.
“Melbourne’s a classy city and it should stay because it’s a classy event. Keep the classy event in the classy Hughes said yesterday.
Stefanovic, who famously hosted the 2014 post-Logies Today show drunk, went a step further, promising to boycott the ceremony if it leaves Melbourne during an on-air rant.
“I’m telling you right now – if the Logies move from Melbourne I’m boycotting them. I will not be going to the Logies if they’re outside of Melbourne,” he said.
Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate hit back at suggestions city,” the Coast was a “tacky” location for TV’s night of nights.
“I could turn around and say it would be a fitting venue for a tacky industry in a tacky city. It goes hand-in-hand, it goes well,” he said.
“I would absolutely welcome our city as the host of the Logies, especially after the Commonwealth Games.
“To have the Logies here would send a message throughout Australia and remind them why the Gold Coast is the capital of tourism.”
The ceremony would most likely be held at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre or The Star Gold Coast, which showed off its credentials as a live broadcast venue when it hosted Foxtel’s CMC Awards in March.
Ms Jones declined to say if the Queensland Government would kick in more funding than the $1 million the Victorian Government provided for the event.
“Coming to the Gold Coast would be a great way to refresh The Logies and no one rolls out the red carpet like the Gold Coast,” she said.