Premier makes Everest decision after Alan Jones’ heated radio exchange with Opera House CEO
PREMIER Gladys Berejiklian intervened to direct The Opera House to use its iconic sails to promote Sydney with a light show for The Everest barrier draw. POLL: What should be allowed on Opera House sails?
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PREMIER Gladys Berejiklian intervened to direct The Opera House to use its iconic sails to promote Sydney with a light show for The Everest barrier draw.
After a high-stakes stand-off between Opera House CEO Louise Herron and Racing NSW, Ms Berejiklian took the rare step in a bid to use the cultural landmark to promote the $13 million racing event.
The agreement reached will see the Everest trophy, barrier numbers and jockey silk colours beamed on to the Opera House sails in a light show to coincide with the barrier draw on Tuesday night.
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In a statement to The Saturday Telegraph last night, Ms Herron said “The NSW government has decided that the proposal will proceed. And it will.” She said she had been “overwhelmed today by the passion people feel for the Opera House”.
Radio talkback king Alan Jones earlier told Ms Herron she should lose her job over her resistance, adding that he would tell Ms Berejiklian that.
The Daily Telegraph revealed yesterday that Racing NSW boss Peter V’landys was offered the Opera House light show by the state government after it rejected his calls to promote the race on the Harbour Bridge. However Ms Herron consistently resisted the idea, saying the venue should not be a commercial billboard.
It’s understood that during the negotiations yesterday, Ms Herron was repeatedly told that it was not unprecedented for a logo and words to be featured on the sails, with officials pointing to the Wallaby logo being beamed up ahead of the 2015 World Cup.
Sports Minister Stuart Ayres and Arts Minister Don Harwin did most of the negotiating via phone, with the Premier stepping in to stamp her authority and a resolution was reached just after 4pm.
Ms Herron pushed to keep numbers and the word “Everest” out of the light show but was ultimately overruled.
Senior sources said it was significant for the government to intervene and tell a statutory body like the Opera House what to do.
“Ministers have offered direction in the past but it is rare,” they said.
“The government had to establish authority here and it did.”