Ratepayers fund ‘digital dance club’ in Melbourne City council grants splurge

Melbourne City Council has been slammed for its “warped priorities” when approving grants, ignoring struggling CBD businesses in favour of a “coming out” concert.

Melbourne City Council has come under fire for its warped priorities when approving council grants. Picture: Jason Edwards

An LGBTIQ group that presents a “digital dance club” is among dozens of organisations sharing in a $500,000-plus ratepayer-funded splurge by the City of Melbourne.

Social equality arts outfit All the Queens Men has received a $10,000 grant to stage a Coming Back Out Concert, and “dance platform to connect the rainbow and allied communities online”.

The organisation has been solidly funded by the city council, getting $75,000 in 2018 to hold a second Coming Back Out Ball for “gay elders”.

Despite council management then recommending it be rejected on “process” grounds, a majority of councillors supported the grant, while dissenting councillor Beverley Pinder questioned “how many times you come out”.

“Do you come out once, or several times every year?” she told the meeting in June 2018.

The group’s latest payout is among 77 grants dished out under Town Hall’s 2022 Connected Communities Grants program worth $543,322.

Also raking in the cash is The Equality Project, getting $12,000 for its Beyond the Rainbow and LGBTIQA+ Health and Wellbeing Day.

The Hararian Women’s Group scored $9000 for a culture celebration; Oromo Sports Federation Australia got $10,000 for Australian Oromo Cultural Week; and Refugee Council of Australia received $14,000 for “face-to-face/refugee speakers bureau”.

Groups enjoying the top grant of $20,000 were the Melbourne Youth Alliance for Young African Australians Navigating Employment; Kensington Neighbourhood House; and The Centre: Connecting Community in North and West Melbourne for Docklands Comes Together.

Docklands Owners Corporation Network received $15,000; Launch Housing Southbank got $18,000 for an outdoor gym; and a Mentoring Men project received $12,000.

Various groups with $2000 each for operational costs included African Community Elderly Association of Victoria; Carlton Residents Association; and Chinese Arts Association of Melbourne.

Institute of Public Affairs director of communications Evan Mulholland said the spending showed Melbourne City Council’s warped priorities.

“Small and medium-sized businesses have been crushed by draconian lockdowns, and this is how they choose to spend ratepayer money,” he said.

“Town Hall should focus on helping a devastated CBD get back on its feet.”

In a recent report to councillors, the city’s community development director Rushda Halith said the grants were recommended by a six-member external panel.

“(They) value the strength, needs and aspirations of our communities; empower communities to identify and respond to issues, concerns and priorities … support shared outcomes and foster community participation and increase access and inclusion,” she said.

Forty small grants up to $2000 and 37 “impact” grants up to $20,000 were recommended for funding.