Premier Steven Marshall defends decision to award $416,000 grant to Andrew ‘Cosi’ Costello

Premier Steven Marshall has defended a decision to award a $416,000 grant to Andrew “Cosi” Costello, whose television show is sponsored by the SA Tourism Commission.

Premier Steven Marshall has defended a decision to award a $416,000 grant to Andrew ‘Cosi’ Costello to build luxury eco-tourism cabins on his Adelaide Hills property.

The SA Tourism Commission (SATC), the body that awarded the grants, is a sponsor of Mr Costello’s television show but says his application was judged the same as any other.

The Channel 7 and SAFM personality has revealed plans to use the funding to develop luxury accommodation at his Woodside sheep farm. It will fund roughly a third of the total cost of the project.

Questioned about the grant on Thursday, Mr Marshall said he had learnt of it through media coverage, and the selection process was “completely independent”.

“I was absolutely delighted, it wasn’t something I was aware of before,” he said.

Andrew ‘Cosi’ Costello has revealed plans to develop a luxury boutique accommodation offering at his Woodside sheep farm. Picture: Supplied

The Woodside accommodation will be developed with the assistance of a $416,000 tourism grant. Picture: Supplied

Mr Marshall said grant applications were assessed by SATC, which operates independently of government.

“We don’t have any oversight of who is awarded contracts but I must say, I was delighted when I learnt for the very first time this morning, when I opened up the paper, to see that that project in Woodside is going to go ahead,” he said.

Asked about funding arrangements between SATC and Mr Costello’s show South Aussie With Cosi, Mr Marshall said: “I certainly don’t have access to any of that information”.

Cosi on his Woodside property. Picture: supplied

A SATC spokeswoman said all funding applications were assessed by a panel that included representatives of SATC and the South Australian Financing Authority.

“Woodside Lodges was assessed just the same as all of the other applications,” she said.

She said the $20m fund was distributed to 114 projects across the state, including Mr Costello’s.

Since September 2020, Tourism Industry Development Fund grants have unlocked a total of $82.7m in tourism investment and created 608 ongoing jobs.

Mr Costello has been contacted for comment.