Australian Christian Lobby wants to stop State Government funding of the Dark Mofo festival

A LOBBY group is campaigning to stop State Government funding of the popular Dark Mofo festival.

THE Australian Christian Lobby is campaigning to stop State Government funding of the Dark Mofo festival labelling it a pagan ritual worshipping darkness and nudity.

But Dark Mofo creative director Leigh Carmichael says freedom of expression is important and it would continue to provoke debate.

“We feel if we are not breaking any laws then we have the right to continue to do what we do,” he said. “They have a right to protest.”

In July, a petition tabled to Hobart City Council against the festival had 17,000 signatures with only 700 of those residing in southern Tasmania.

By contrast, a petition tabled to the council last month in favour of the festival garnered 11,000 signatures with 6445 of those signatures coming from Tasmanians with 5744 located in the Greater Hobart area.

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DAVID WALSH: DARK MOFO WOULD DIE IF WE GIVE IN

GREG BARNS: DARK MOFO DEBATE EXPOSES INTOLERANCE

‘WE’RE BEYOND HAPPY TO ENJOY THE DIVERSITY IT BRINGS’

One of the inverted red crosses on the Hobart waterfront during Dark Mofo. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE

But despite its popularity, the Christian lobby group is urging Tasmanians to email their MPs to stop funding the festival, which this year displayed 20m-high inverted crosses along the Hobart waterfront.

Hobart Lord Mayor Ron Christie said the festival had crossed the line.

DARK MOFO IS NO LONGER A FAMILY EVENT

CONCERN AT LACK OF RESPECT FOR PETITIONERS

On its website the group writes: “Dark Mofo, presented by Mona as an arts festival, is clearly using funds for what it actually is, a pagan ritual, associated with death, nudity, and worship of darkness.”

It suggests people email MPs with subject lines such as: “Tasmanians are not happy with tax money being used to celebrate and invite evil” or “Dark Mofo is promoting pagan rituals associated with bloody sacrifice, death, nudity and worship of darkness”.

A spokeswoman for the Christian group said since the campaign’s launch last month, 1800 people had emailed Tasmanian state MPs.

Labor leader Rebecca White did not confirm if MPs had received any emails from concerned residents but said the winter festival had gone from strength to strength.

“The event is unashamedly provocative but we don’t believe that it should be censored by politicians,” Ms White said.

“Dark Mofo has become one of the most important events on the Tasmanian calendar and we believe it is worthy of public funding.”