06 November 2024
Labor Continues to Withhold Business Case for Concert Hall
The Albanese Labor Government has continued to refuse to release the taxpayer-funded business case for Townsville’s Concert Hall, more than a year after it was finalised.
When questioned at a Senate Estimates about why the government would not release the business case publicly, Labor Minister Jenny McAllister avoided giving a direct answer, saying she would take the question “on notice”.
Similarly, when asked if the Federal government pressured the Townsville City Council to choose between funding for the Concert Hall or Reef HQ, senators were met with an evasive response.
Herbert MP Phillip Thompson said the continued lack of transparency from the Federal Labor government around its covert decision to scrap Townsville’s Concert Hall project is unacceptable.
“Both the Concert Hall and Reef HQ had been fully funded under the City Deal, but the Albanese Labor Government continues to duck and weave to avoid responsibility for its gross mismanagement of taxpayer funds,” he said.
“It’s bad enough that the Albanese Labor Government forced Townsville City Council to choose between funding the Concert Hall or Reef HQ. Now it’s still holding back the taxpayer-funded report from the very people who paid for it.
“It’s been two-and-a-half years since the tender was first awarded. The Albanese Labor Government was elected on a promise of transparency, but all we’ve seen is a political ploy to hide their incompetence and the people of Townsville aren’t buying it”.
In August 2024 the Prime Minister announced the reallocation of $100M of City Deal funding from the new Townsville Concert Hall project, which had been committed to by the Coalition, to cover a cost blowout of the refurbishment of Reef HQ, having forced the Townsville City Council to decide which project the funds should go towards.
A $2 million business case for the Townsville Concert Hall had been completed in October 2023 but has been covered up by the Albanese Labor Government.
ENDS