Lord Mayor offers support for Taste of Tasmania workers

HOBART’S Lord Mayor has expressed her support for council staff involved in organising the Taste of Tasmania, amid external and internal criticism of the event.

Generic file pictures from Taste of Tasmania, for online gallery or general use.

HOBART’S Lord Mayor has expressed her support for council staff involved in organising the Taste of Tasmania, amid external and internal criticism of the event.

In an email to Hobart City Council general manager Nick Heath, Lord Mayor Sue Hickey moved to reassure the events team that its work was appreciated.

“I know many of you have worked for many months on this project and have not slept throughout the event, nor since most likely ... On behalf of your aldermen, I wish to thank you all, most heartedly for the work you have done. The problems were not of your making and you did your very best to work through them,” Ald Hickey wrote.

“In addition, regardless of the outcome of any future considerations for the Taste after a full review, council has finally and bravely turned the corner towards a cost-neutral event. Tremendous work and thank you to all involved.”

Her words were partially a response to statements by Alderman Marti Zucco during and after the event.

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On Friday, Ald Zucco said he supported calls from the tourism and hospitality industries for the Taste to be taken over by external event professionals.

“As an experienced restaurateur I have always advocated that the event needs people with hospitality expertise,” Ald Zucco said.

“I totally agree politicians, including myself, should take a back seat with the Taste.”

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Ald Zucco has also criticised the cashless payment system, used for the first time this year to help council recoup some of the costs of running the event.

On Friday, it was revealed stallholders had been reimbursed $140,000 in lost takings due to glitches in the new cashless payment system.