Games parent ticket snub as request for ceremony seats denied

The Commonwealth Games closing ceremony had its problems with rambling political speeches and athletes cut for TV coverage. But what happened when parents of performers asked for free tickets?

Parents of performers were reportedly denied free tickets to the Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony.

THE Palaszczuk Government is being branded a poor sport after not offering spare free tickets to families of performers at the opening and closing Commonwealth Games ceremonies.

A Right to Information request by the Opposition has successfully secured a departmental briefing note about tickets for the parents of Games performers.

The Logan electorate office was contacted by a parents of young female performer who had asked if tickets could be obtained after learning that all the seats for the public had been sold.

Commonwealth Games — 2018. Surfers Paradise — Opening ceremony night. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT

Staff at the electorate office referred the request to the office of Commonwealth Games Minister Kate Jones.

The briefing note, issued in early March, reveals each performer would be offered two tickets to one of the dress rehearsals for the opening ceremony as a “thank you” from GOLDOC.

“There is no dress rehearsal for the closing ceremony. No tickets have been set aside for parents and friends of performers for the ceremonies themselves,” the briefing note said.

“No further tickets are available for the opening ceremony. Some tickets for the closing ceremony remain available and can be purchased via Ticketek.”

The Government is expected to respond to issues surrounding ticketing when the Opposition asks questions about the Games at an Estimates hearing at State Parliament today.

Liberal National Party Leader Deb Frecklington told the Bulletin: “Given the debacle around the closing ceremony and the fact that they couldn’t even fill the stadium, it would have been nice to at least offer the parents of kids performing a free ticket.

LNP leader Deb Frecklington on the Gold Coast. Picture Glenn Hampson

“This was a once in a lifetime opportunity for many of our volunteers and their families weren’t even able to see them perform live.

“These were volunteers who gave hours of their time for rehearsals and performances.

“It just shows Annastacia Palaszczuk’s priority was making sure she was centre stage giving a

speech.”

GOLDOC chairman Peter Beattie later had to apologise for the closing ceremony, which featured rambling political speeches and had little television footage of the athletes.

Opposition Games spokesman John-Paul Langbroek said the briefing note confirmed parents were told to buy tickets after asking the Government how they could see their children perform during the ceremonies.

Mark Knowles, flag bearer of Australia arrives with the Australia team during the Opening Ceremony for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

“Many of the children who were involved in the Opening and Closing Ceremonies gave up their school holidays to participate and their own families weren’t able to share in the celebrations on the night with them,” Mr Langbroek said.

“This just shows Annastacia Palaszczuk is out of touch. We all know the focus during the closing ceremony was on the politicians and not the athletes or the volunteers, but to not even invite the families of performers is ludicrous.

“If Labor knew they weren’t going to fill the stadium during the Closing Ceremony, they should have reached out to local kids and the parents of the performers in the ceremony.”