Don’t want Dark Mofo in Hobart? We’ll have it, says Cairns Labor MP Michael Healy
UPDATED: DARK Mofo’s creative director has poured cold water on a plot that had been hatched in Far North Queensland to steal the festival away from Hobart.
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A PLOT has been hatched in Far North Queensland to steal the Dark Mofo festival away from Hobart.
The Queensland Government has seized on comments by Hobart Lord Mayor Rob Christie that the event was no longer consider family-friendly and its funding of $258,000 by the council should be reconsidered.
Ald Christie has also warned the harbourside capital about the dangers of mass tourism, prompting a call for his resignation from they civic post.
He yesterday stood by his comments and vowed to stay on.
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Cairns Labor MP Michael Healy is leading the push to lure the five-year-old event north.
“I’ve been made aware recently that the Mayor of Hobart has made some comments about too many tourists, and there’s a particular event ... called Dark Mofo. He’s indicated that he’d like his council to review their funding of it,” he said.
“In Cairns, we’ve never had a problem with too many tourists.
“It is something that was brought to my attention yesterday.
“I have spoken briefly with the Minister for Tourism (Kate Jones), and I will be writing to the organisation that is responsible for Dark Mofo, which is being held — I believe — since 2013 in Hobart.
“And I’m going to invite them up to North Queensland, where we also experience a dark winter.
“I know it got down to 13C the other night.”
Ald Christie said the festival had courted controversy with its inverted crosses and depiction of the Last Supper on its Winter Feast website.
Dark Mofo creative director Leigh Carmichael poured cold water over any suggestion the festival could move to the mainland.
“There certainly have been approaches, a couple of quite serious requests to look at moving,” he said.
“Dark Mofo specifically belongs in Hobart.
“I just don’t think festivals that are picked up and dropped into other places necessarily work.
“I don’t think Dark Mofo’s going anywhere.”
Tasmanian Premier Will Hodgson laughed off suggestions the festival could move to the Sunshine State.
“Dark Mofo is Tasmanian-born and bred and here to stay,” he said.
“I don’t think Queensland would want to lose another State of Origin battle this week.”
A change.org petition with almost 17,000 signatures calling for the immediate removal of the crosses was submitted to the council last week.
MORE: DARK MOFO DOWNS DISPLAY THAT MADE CHRISTIANS SO CROSS
“Art has to push the boundaries but where is that boundary line?” Ald Christie said.
“I think the line has been crossed based on the feedback I’m getting from the community.”
Backed by multi-millionaire Mona art museum owner David Walsh, Dark Mofo was established in 2013 to complement the Mona Foma summer event.
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