Clover Moore’s council denies Anzacs $5000 while allowing ‘crazy hats’ show $14,000

LORD Mayor Clover Moore, who has lavished ratepayers’ money on arty mates and political allies, has enraged war veterans by snubbing next month’s Anzac Day commemoration.

City of Sydney Council has recommended rejecting an application for a $5000 to go towards Martin Place’s Anzac dawn service. Picture: Bill Hearne

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CASH-happy Lord Mayor Clover Moore, who has been shown recently to lavish ratepayers’ money on her arty mates and political allies, has enraged war veterans by snubbing next month’s Anzac Day commemoration.

Ms Moore’s council has given nearly $300,000 to a ­design group run by a former political ally, including a staggering $14,000 for a bizarre crochet exhibition, while refusing $5000 to help fund this year’s Anzac Dawn Service.

The $300,000 funding to Australian Design Centre, a charity that made a healthy $44,000 profit in 2015 and has Ms Moore’s political ally Jenny Green on its board, is the latest public money to be handed to organisations run by the Lord Mayor’s associates.

An exhibit from the crochet show at Australian Design Centre.

Chili Philly funding was approved in November.

Astonishingly, though, the City of Sydney Council has recommended rejecting an application from the Anzac Day Dawn Service Trust for a $5000 grant to fund next month’s Martin Place service. A final decision is due on Monday.

Crossbench state MPs Robert Borsak and Fred Nile plan to launch a parliamentary inquiry into growing concern around City of Sydney’s grants.

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“Not funding the Dawn Service is an absolute disgrace,” Rev Nile said yesterday.

Mr Borsak added: “It is disgusting that City of Sydney can’t fund a $5000 grant to honour the Anzacs but can find $14,000 for a crochet exhibition.”

Victoria Cross recipient Keith Payne was also angry, saying Diggers and their families brought huge revenue into the city.

City of Sydney is contributing $48,500 to Anzac Day commemorations, a spokesman said.

Despite rejecting the grant, City of Sydney is funding Anzac Day, including money for an indigenous veterans’ commemoration service.

Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore. Picture: Craig Wilson

“The city provides a total of $48,500 to Anzac Day commemorations, making us a major supporter,” a spokesman said.

On Monday, Ms Moore’s ruling party approved a 90 per cent rent subsidy for Australian ­Design Centre at its publicly owned William St headquarters, valued at $247,853.

Jenny Green became an ADC non-executive director on December 6 after stepping down as a City of Sydney councillor representing Ms Moore’s political party. ADC said Ms Green had no involvement in its grants requests.

Ms Moore was not present for Monday’s meeting due to ill health.

In November, City of Sydney approved a $29,000 grant for ADC to host artist Phil Ferguson’s “Chili Philly” crocheted hats exhibition. This predates Ms Green’s role with the ADC.

The Mardis Gras event was launched by Ms Moore’s ally, Sydney MP Alex Greenwich, co-chair of Australian Marriage Equality which was given free rent of $80,183 on Monday.

Mr Greenwich said he was not involved in AME’S grant and the application was submitted via the proper process.

The Daily Telegraph revealed yesterday that Strata Communities Australia was given a $6000 grant for an environmental award. Catherine Lezer, who ran for Ms Moore’s political party in September’s elections, is an SCA director. SCA said Ms Lezer played no role.

Ms Moore’s spokesman said her party was unaware Ms Green was on ADC’s board until The Telegraph highlighted the issue.