The West Australian government has pulled the plug on a $200,000 plan to send a float spruiking its flagship Metronet program down St Georges Terrace in this year’s annual Perth Christmas Pageant.
The Department of Transport issued a contract to Perth-based brand agency Rubis Group on September 13 to prepare a float in the annual pageant organised by Seven.
With details – and designs – for the Metronet float scarce, we turned to WAtoday’s graphic design department for ideas...Credit: WAtoday
According to the tender advertisement, the department proposed the float for the two-hour parade to celebrate “the positive impact” the Metronet juggernaut had across the metropolitan region.
The contract for the parade on December 7, almost exactly 12 weeks out from the 2025 election, was set to cost taxpayers more than $186,300.
But when approached by this masthead, a state government spokesperson said the proposal was no longer proceeding. They would not be drawn on what had led to the decision.
Opposition spokesman Tjorn Sibma branded the plan “tone-deaf” and “frivolous” and said the money could have been better spent elsewhere, particularly while the state was in the throes of a cost-of-living crisis.
“I think that is an obscene amount of money to be wasting on what is essentially government propaganda for a one-off event,” he said.
“No one is going to begrudge the Christmas Pageant, and I think the government should support it, but I don’t think using it as an opportunity for political promotion in the lead up to an election is particularly noble.
“If the government wants to share Christmas cheer among people who sorely need it, I would suggest donating that money to a children’s charity or a domestic violence shelter.”
The state government spokesperson insisted it was providing record cost of living relief while delivering on the mammoth rail network expansion and defended its right to participate in the event.
“The state government regularly participates in major community events to promote and raise awareness of affordable transport options and new major projects,” the spokesperson said.
“This proposal is not proceeding, however the government will continue to explore cost-effective ways of participating in community events to raise awareness of its major projects.”
The opposition has long criticised WA Labor’s major public transport plan, which comprises more than 70 kilometres of rail and 23 new train stations.
The total capital cost of the project is approaching $13 billion, a figure which has climbed annually since Labor promised it could be delivered for $3 billion at the 2017 election.
This masthead had also forwarded questions to the Department of Transport, which redirected the matter to Metronet’s office, which has its own media team.
In 2013, the City of Perth placed life-size dummy trams in the Hay Street Mall amid concerns over the then-government’s plan to run light rail tracks bisecting the shopping precinct.
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