The Sauce: Lack of funding almost cost Sydney the Invictus Games
A ROYAL baby announcement, tales of sporting bravery and a visit by the Beckhams — the Invictus Games has been one big publicity coup for NSW. But government insiders have revealed how a minister had to go begging for money.
NSW
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A ROYAL baby announcement, tales of battlefield and sporting bravery and a visit by the Beckhams — the Invictus Games has been one big publicity coup for NSW.
However, government insiders have revealed not everyone was on board in the beginning. When Veterans Affairs Minister David Elliott sought approval from former premier Mike Baird and then-treasurer Gladys Berejiklian to pull together funding for a bid for the Games two years ago, both leaders committed $5 million.
Hoping to double the amount, Mr Elliott approached Destination NSW.
To his surprise, the agency charged with bringing in tourist dollars said no.
With the Gold Coast having secured funding from the Queensland RSL, Mr Elliott turned to the NSW branch. It offered support, but no funds.
“Elliott and others pushing for a bid had no option but to go cap in hand to the private sector,” one source said.
A meeting with James Packer’s right-hand man Mark Arbib was organised, with the Packer Family Foundation making a “significant contribution”. Clubs NSW followed, also throwing in cash.
Mr Elliott then did the rounds of the NSW Australian Hotels Association and The Star — “basically every banned political donor” — with each coughing up.
With the NSW RSL leadership changing with the election of Malcolm Turnbull’s son-in-law James Brown as president, the organisation also came on board.
Many of the donors — such as Gretel Packer and Clubs NSW boss Anthony Ball — were present at the Games’ launch last Saturday but notably absent were representatives from Destination NSW.
A spokeswoman said it had assisted with the “formulation of the Invictus Games bid document”.
“Funding for the event was managed as part of a whole-of-government event submission.”
THE WALKING DEAD
SPECIAL Minister of State Alex Hawke has become embroiled in a membership dispute in his electorate following a Liberal Party branch meeting held at a Sydney funeral parlour this month.
The Hills Shire branch, which has used the conference facilities at Allan Drew Funerals for years, has become the subject of an internal party office investigation amid claims minutes were changed to annul the memberships of new recruits.
A Liberal source said the Right brought along 10 new members to the October 9 branch meeting, with the majority of those present voting to accept them. But the minutes lodged with the party office showed otherwise.
“We believe the minutes were doctored,” the source said.
The new members would have shifted the power balance from Mr Hawke’s Centre-Right faction to the Right.
Mr Hawke said he did not comment on “internal party matters” but a centre-right source said the members were rejected as they were “Lebanese property developers from Westmead” who did not live in the electorate.
FORE! NO GOLF HERE
DESCRIBED as “one of Canberra’s premier golf courses”, it’s no surprise the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet would pick the 18-hole championship Federal Golf Club for a two-day team bonding session.
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Tender documents reveal the department spent $19,620 taxpayer dollars to hire a venue at the club, with about 130 bureaucrats attending the July 25-26 “leadership forum”.
The department however claims none of its bureaucrats actually took to the greens for a round.
“The event was not a golf day,” a PMC spokesperson said.
We believe you … maybe.
COMPASSION BLOCK
IT was a plea to our state and federal pollies: be a bit kinder and more compassionate.
The request, from the Anglican Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn, was sent to the nation’s parliamentarians on the grounds Australians were becoming increasingly concerned at the “erosion of compassion in Australian society”.
Greens MP David Shoebridge moved for the motion to be endorsed in state parliament. Not so Upper House government leader Don Harwin, who blocked it. His office told The Sauce they would not be commenting. Bah humbug.
RUN FARMER RUN
Deputy Labor leader Michael Daley faces an interesting race just to hold onto his seat of Maroubra at the next election.
Ultra-marathon runner and serial campaigner Pat Farmer last week secured Liberal preselection to run in the eastern suburbs seat he now calls home, telling The Sauce: “Having been a member of Parliament before, I know it’s a marathon not a sprint.”
With a history of running for various seats, we think Mr Farmer’s enduring optimism makes him the Forrest Gump of Australian politics: He just. Keeps. Running!
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