[Greens-Media] Greens call on Government to reveal full extent of World Youth Day deal

[Susie Gemmell]

Media Release 
5 February 2008
 
Greens call on Government to reveal full extent of World Youth Day
deal
 
Commenting on the page 6 Sydney Morning Herald story today, Greens MP
and youth spokesperson Lee Rhiannon has called on the NSW Government to
come clean and disclose the full extent of all deals made with the
Australian Jockey Club for the use of Randwick Racecourse for World
Youth Day.
 
“The Government should place on the public record the full extent of
its deals with the Australian Jockey Club for World Youth Day,” said
Ms Rhiannon.   
 
“The NSW government’s failure to disclose all the sweeteners
offered to the AJC suggests it judged that the public might be
uncomfortable with the full extent of the World Youth Day package. 
 
“Offering the AJC a release from paying rent as well as first dibs on
buying up prime public land is excessive. 
 
“The World Youth Day package is clearly overly generous. The way the
NSW government is recklessly throwing public money at this event
threatens to mar what should be a positive occasion for Sydney.
 
“World Youth Day is shaping up to be an enormous drain on the public
purse.
 
“This backroom deal shows a government desperate to shore up World
Youth Day - at any cost.
 
“When parliament resumes the Greens will pressure the NSW government
to come clean on the expected final bill for World Youth Day,” said Ms
Rhiannon. 
 

For more information – Lee Rhiannon: 9230 3551, 0427 861 568
 

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Susie Gemmell
Adviser, Greens MLC Lee Rhiannon (p/t Mon-Wed)
Macquarie St, Sydney 2000
Tel: +61-2-9230 3551 Fax: +61-2-9230 3550
Mobile: 0431 458 102
Email susie.gemmell at parliament.nsw.gov.au
Web www.leerhiannon.org.au