Axed by council, saved by Premier: IndiaFest’s wild week after Townsville City Council’s decision to halve community grant

The Premier has donated $25,000 to ensure IndiaFest goes ahead this year, after Townsville City Council informed organisers grant money had been axed just weeks before the show was set to start.

IndiaFest has been saved at the eleventh hour with the Queensland Premier himself parachuting in $25,000 to cover Council’s withdrawn funding.

IndiaFest has been running since 2014 at Riverway, and has always been supported by a $50,000 community grant from Townsville City Council.

But just two months before the festival was due to run, organisers were informed they would only be provided a $25,000 grant as councillors looked to cut operating costs.

The timing wasn’t optimal, not only were IndiaFest organisers given extremely short notice, but the decision occurred two days before David Crisafulli awarded IndiaFest ‘Queensland’s Best Event’ at his Queensland Day Awards.

IndiaFest secretary Nick Attam said he used the moment at the Queensland Day awards to approach the Premier, tourism minister, and multicultural minister about the situation.

“I initiated talking to him, and MP Natalie Marr pushed hard for us too,” Mr Attam said.

“Mr Crisafulli’s connection to Townsville was also a major factor, the fact he was with us when it started in 2014.”

After reporting from the Townsville Bulletin, and questioning on the floor of parliament from Thuringowa MP Natalie Marr,Crisafulli announced the state government would step up to fill the $25,000 shortfall this year.

Premier David Crisafulli announces the state will donate $25,000 to IndiaFest, during a sitting on June 11.

Crisafulli – a former Townsville councillor himself – said he’d seen how successful IndiaFest had been.

“I had a small role with IndiaFest in 2014,” Crisafulli said.

“The funding for the IndiaFest has always been $50,000 and the change (at council) means the most they can get is $25,000 – and that change comes two months out from their festival which is a massive impact.

“It has become clear this festival is at risk of not going ahead because of that.”

IndiaFest secretary Nick Attam, Premier David Crisafulli, and IndiaFest president Binu Jacob at the Queensland Day event.

Crisafulli said the state government would be giving IndiaFest a $25,000 donation to secure their 2025 event.

“We will not let that festival die on our watch,” he said.

“But we do want to see Council come on-board in a bigger way in the years to come.”

When the subject of the slashed council grant was brought up, Crisafulli said he “wasn’t going to get into that”.

“That is a matter for that council.”

Indian Cultural Dancers Anitta Biju, 14, Rohini Scott, Nitika Chavan, and Alpana Sinha in a preview picture for the IndiaFest at Riverway next weekend.

Mr Attam said when he started to talking to the state politicians, he’d hoped for some support but the $25,000 was a shock.

“We didn’t know it would be this huge. But this is bigger than the money,” he said.

“It’s emotional, I really got goosebumps when Premier Crisafulli was talking in parliament about our Townsville community.”

Trisha Chaudhary ahead of Townsville's IndiaFest 2024.

In parliament, Mr Crisafulli said events were important – not only for tourism, but for communities.

“Events mean something … they are about who we are, and the kinds of things we want to celebrate,” he said.

“And we should celebrate our multicultural story because we are better for it.”

On June 4, Townsville City councillors voted 7-3 to reduced the maximum they were willing to give in tier 1 community grants from $50,000 to $25,000.

Originally published as Axed by council, saved by Premier: IndiaFest’s wild week after Townsville City Council’s decision to halve community grant