King hit on NSW Premier Chris Minns as emails see the light

Plans to light up the Sydney Opera House for King Charles’s coronation were axed by NSW Premier Chris Minns for ‘political’ purposes, internal government emails reveal.

Emails obtained by The Australian – between staff members in the Premier’s own department – reveal that the decision to bar the Opera House’s coronation lighting plans was a “political decision”.

Plans to light up the Sydney Opera House for King Charles’s coronation were axed by NSW Premier Chris Minns for “political” purposes and claims that it could have cost up to $100,000 are in dispute, internal government emails reveal.

Despite lighting up the nat­ion’s most iconic building this year to celebrate the Matildas World Cup team and Indian leader Narendra Modi, Mr Minns decided to avoid any use of the Opera House to mark the first crowning of an Australian monarch in more than 50 years, saying at the time that it was too expensive.

Emails obtained by The Australian – between staff members in the Premier’s own department – reveal that the decision to bar the Opera House’s coronation plans was a “political decision” and called into question the previously stipulated cost, with much cheaper options available.

With Mr Minns’s federal Labor counterparts planning for a ­referendum to introduce an ­Australia-based head of state by 2026 if the push for an Indigenous voice to parliament succeeds, the NSW Coalition has accused the Premier of misleading the state over his intentions to ban the regal light display.

A Premier and Cabinet Department spokesman, however, said the decision was “political” in that it had been made by the Premier.

It is understood that potentially cheaper options were not put to Mr Minns.

 

The internal correspondence shows that when asked whether the decision was political or operational, the Premier and Cabinet Department’s events associate director wrote: “More (of a) political (decision) … from the premier.”

This was in reply to the department’s major events associate director saying: “I’m interested in how these things are decided; can I ask if that (not illuminating the Opera House) is a political decision, or a conservation/operational one?”

In May, Mr Minns said the Opera House had been lit up too many times under the previous state government.

“It costs between $80,000 and $100,000 to light up – we’ve got to be mindful of where taxpayer money is spent and there are other ways of commemorating the event,” he told radio station 2GB at the time.

“The circumstances behind it are pretty straightforward.”

However, internal correspondence between departmental staff members allude to the cost being closer to $50,000, while a minimal “purple wash” of the Opera House, without the King’s cipher, could have cost as little as $10,000, the documents revealed.

“Is there any interest in pursuing the Opera House being lit ­purple instead,” a department director asked.

King Charles III on his coronation day on May 6. Picture: AAP

The commonwealth had encouraged the states and territories to light up monuments in purple, the royal colour.

“We could request the Opera House to project purple by adjusting their lighting for about $10,000, but this would seem to be defeating the purpose of not doing it,” another department associate director responded when the ­option was put to him.

However, it is understood the premier didn’t receive this as an option.

The monument has been lit up in full since, notably for the ­Matildas, although this does ­accord with Mr Minns’s desire for what types of events get projected.

“Australia and Australians, and moments of sacrifice and heroism for the country, or when there’s an important international event in Sydney (should be projected),” he has previously said.

The GIPA also revealed how the state government was instructed to tell Buckingham ­Palace of their decision to not go ahead with the lights.

The Sydney Opera House illuminated green and gold to show support for Australia's women's football team the Matildas. A coronation ‘purple wash’ option would have cost only $10,000. Picture: WireImage

“The following stakeholders have already been informed of the projection, so we will need to ­advise them it won’t be proceeding,” another director wrote, listing Buckingham Palace.

“It may not be necessary to advise the palace but we will need to inform Government House.”

However, the Premier’s Department argued that the question as to whether it was a “political ­decision” meant something different.

“An internal inquiry by a staff member to her manager was seeking clarification about the decision,” the spokesman said.

“Given that the decision wasn’t made by the operational agencies in either the Opera House or the department but by the Premier, the manager simply replied it was ‘political’, as the Premier is a political office holder.”

NSW Opposition Leader Mark Speakman said the previous costs misled the public. Picture: Nikki Short

NSW MP Chris Rath said the documents showed the move was a ‘political stunt’.

A spokesman for Mr Minns said “he made clear at the time he decided not to light the sails”.

“The building was lit too frequently under the previous government and we need to protect taxpayers’ money,” he said, saying the government struck “the right balance”.

Although it is understood the Premier was not aware of the low-cost lighting option, it remains unknown whether Buckingham Palace was notified of the U-turn or why a cheaper purple wash wasn’t considered to commemorate the coronation.

NSW Opposition Leader Mark Speakman called on the Premier to apologise.

The King’s cipher, which would have cost about $50,000 to project onto the Sydney Opera House. Picture: Getty Images

“Chris Minns seems to have put his personal political views ahead of the interests of the people of NSW, and then misled the public (on the costs),” the Liberal Party state leader said.

“The Premier should do the right thing and apologise.”

Liberal NSW MLC Chris Rath, who lodged the GIPA, said it was clear why the “abrupt and dis­respectful” cancellation had happened.

“I think this is proof the decision was nothing more than a political stunt in protest of the monarchy,” the MP said.

Australian Monarchist League chairman Eric Abetz said the ­decision, given a much cheaper option was available, was “mean-spirited”.