‘Fly them in, shock them, fly them out’: Lord Mayor says Dark Mofo has no tourism benefits

TASMANIA’S top tourism boss has ridiculed comments from Hobart’s Lord Mayor that Dark Mofo has no flow-on tourism benefits to the state.

UPDATED: TASMANIA’S top tourism boss has labelled comments from Hobart Lord Mayor Ron Christie that Dark Mofo has no flow-on tourism benefits to the state as “bonkers”.

On Thursday, the Mercury revealed the Australian Christian Lobby was campaigning to stop state funding of Dark Mofo because it was a pagan ritual worshipping darkness and nudity.

Alderman Christie says the campaign should be broadened to include the city council, and renewed calls for the council’s sponsorship of $258,000 a year for Dark Mofo — $108,000 for venue help and a cash grant of $150,000 — to end.

CALL TO STOP STATE FUNDING OF DARK MOFO

This year, the festival courted controversy by displaying 20m-high inverted crosses along the Hobart waterfront.

Hobart Lord Mayor Ron Christie on the Hobart waterfront. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

Ald Christie questioned whether the council should continue to fund an event that offends a section of the Hobart community for the sake of art.

“The Australian Christian Lobby is asking state politicians to review funding for the Dark Mofo Festival in 2019,” Ald Christie said.

“Perhaps the group should ask Hobart City Council aldermen to consider the same.

“In the past three years we contributed $658,000 of ratepayers’ funds to Dark Mofo.”

Ald Christie said the festival’s aim was to fly tourists in, shock them, and fly them out with no flow-on benefits to the broader tourism industry.

“It didn’t reap great rewards for tourism,” he said.

Tourism Industry Council Tasmania chief executive Luke Martin called the Lord Mayor’s comments “bonkers”. Picture: CHRIS KIDD

But Tourism Industry Council Tasmania chief executive Luke Martin said Dark Mofo had a massive flow-on effect across Tasmania.

“June in Hobart now is as big as summer with people spending at restaurants, retail and getting out into regions,” he said. “Tourism operators will hear Ald Christie’s comments and laugh. It’s bonkers.”

Ald Christie said the Mike Parr stunt of being buried underneath Macquarie St during the festival was “stupid”.

“He [Parr] got out, walked away, and didn’t comment.”

Hobart mayoral candidate Marti Zucco. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

Dark Mofo creative director Leigh Carmichael says freedom of expression is important and it will continue to provoke debate. The festival’s council funding will be up for review at the end of the year.

Hobart mayoral candidate Marti Zucco said Ald Christie’s comments were unfortunate and appeared to again be an attempted and reactive vote-grabbing thought bubble.

“Mona is bringing millions of dollars to the state and creating hundreds of jobs with its hugely successful Dark Mofo, yet the acting Lord Mayor is continuing to question its value to the state,” he said.

EARLIER: HOBART Lord Mayor Ron Christie says an Australian Christian Lobby campaign to stop state funding of Dark Mofo should be broadened to include the city council.

Ald Christie has renewed calls for the council’s sponsorship of $258,000 per year for Dark Mofo — $108,000 for venue help and a cash grant of $150,000 — to end.

The festival’s funding will be up for review at the end of the year.

This week, the Mercury revealed 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.

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

MORE:

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’

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

But Ald Christie has questioned whether the council should continue to fund an event that offends a section of the Hobart community for the sake of art.

“The Australian Christian Lobby is asking state politicians to review funding for the Dark Mofo Festival in 2019,” Ald Christie said.

TALKING POINT: THE CONVERSATION WE HAVE TO HAVE

Lord Mayor Ron Christie at the Hobart City Council meeting which determined whether the MWCC should be allowed access to Wellington Park and build any cable car infrastructure on council land. Picture: MATHEW FARRELL

“Perhaps the group should ask Hobart City Council aldermen to consider the same.

“In the past three years we contributed $658,000 of ratepayers’ funds to Dark Mofo.”

Ald Christie said the festival’s aim was to fly tourists in, shock them, and fly them out with no flow-on benefits to the broader tourism industry.

The spider-shaped Ogoh-Ogoh engulfed in flames during “The Burning” at Dark Park. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

“It didn’t reap great rewards for tourism,” he said.

Ald Christie said the Mike Parr stunt of being buried underneath Macquarie St during the festival was “stupid”

“It wasn’t a great event from what I could tell,” he said.

“He (Mr Parr) got out, walked away, and didn’t comment.”