Mardi Gras funding: Sydney Mayor Clover Moore slammed after agreeing to foot $550,000 bill while councillors kept in dark

A Sydney councillor claims he felt gaslit by the mayor while discussing emergency funding to help save the city’s struggling Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade.

A City of Sydney councillor claims he felt gaslit by Mayor Clover Moore after she asked “do you agree to support Mardi Gras or not” while discussing emergency funding.

In a fiery council meeting, councillors spoke against the “aberration” of standard practice that took place when Ms Moore presented a motion to fork out half of the state’s $1.1 million emergency package to save Mardi Gras Parade only hours before they were due to meet.

Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras requested emergency financial relief over worries the 2024 parade would not go ahead due to more than $1m of debt and significant financial pressure.

Councillors have complained they were only briefed three hours before the May 13 meeting – though Ms Clover offered to help pay the bill on February 23, following a sit down with Night Economy Minister John Graham.

City of Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore takes part in the parade.

In the council meeting, Ms Clover said it was “the first opportunity” for the issue to be aired, despite two previous meetings occurring since the in-principal support of the rescue package.

Councillor Shauna Jarrett said the situation was just another example of “being told what to do”.

Councillor Shauna Jarrett felt she was “told what to do”.

“The lack of respect and transparency around the way decisions made by the staff of this organisation is unfortunate,” she said.

“We’re facing a crisis in this city with respect to the funding to a lot of arts organisations and yet here we are being asked to approve a large sum of money without any background info.”

A spokesman for Ms Moore responded and said city staff worked with Destination NSW and Mardi Gras to prepare the report, which was handed out when finalised.

“The report was brought direct to Council, rather than through the following Committees meeting cycle leading up to the next Council meeting on Monday 24 June,” he said.

“It is not unusual for reports to come direct to Council.”

Sydney City councillor Lyndon Gannon in his chambers.

Councillor Lyndon Gannon, the only member to vote against the motion, said he felt he was gaslit and the Mardi Gras question was framed so a negative answer would indicate overall opposition to the event.

“We were giving no explanation about why ratepayers should be giving the government money. It’s absolutely ridiculous,” he said.

“It’s a part of my committee, these sort of decision are meant to go through me, but it didn't.”

“Clover basically said that it was an arrangement that she had with Graham and that she really wanted the counsellor to support it, but then gives us no answers to any of our questions.”

The funding motion was carried at the May 13 meeting.