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Call to can council’s “embarrassing” NYE party

Veteran Adelaide City Councillor Anne Moran attended her 21st council New Year’s Eve party last week, and says the yearly soiree has become an “embarrassing” waste of ratepayers’ cash.

Jan 04, 2016, updated Jan 04, 2016
"Who are these people that we’re giving free booze to?"

"Who are these people that we’re giving free booze to?"

Moran told InDaily that – as far as she could tell – only four of her fellow councillors and none of the council administration’s general managers turned up to the annual VIP bash.

She said the New Year’s celebration, which was held near the paddleboat pontoon in Elder Park, separate from the public celebration, constituted “a party for complete strangers, and we’re paying ratepayers’ money for it”.

Moran said that more than 100 people turned up to the New Year’s party, but few were familiar to her.

“I didn’t know anybody, and that tells me that we are not targeting the people that we should be: the people that work for us, their family and the people who live in the City of Adelaide,” she said.

“The ratepayer would object to throwing a reasonably expensive champagne (event) for people I don’t know – people I don’t recognise…I want to know that we’re thanking and networking with the people that are contributing to the city, not just complete strangers … who may or may not be ratepayers – probably not.”

Moran said that “in these lean times, you need bang for your buck”.

“Who are these people that we’re giving free booze to?” she said.

But Moran conceded she “may stand to be corrected” about the shindig’s guest-list, that she left before fireworks started and that others may have turned up after she departed.

Moran expressed regret that that during her time as a councillor “there’s only been one (council New Year’s party) that’s been worth it”.

“Cancel it if this is the best you can do,” she said.

“I have … missed out on 20 years of friends’ (New Year’s parties)”.

The council’s administration released a statement to InDaily this afternoon saying around $3000 was spent on food for the function but the final cost for alcohol served had not yet been confirmed.

“The purpose of the event is to provide a modest ‘thank you’ for the event partners and other guests for their support of the successful event,” a council administration spokesperson said. 

“The space is utilised by event partners, supporters and their guests, Adelaide City Council Elected Members and senior staff.

 “A number of councillors and event stakeholders utilised the area over the event duration, 8pm to 1am.

“Elected members are provided an allocation of passes to this area for distribution at their own discretion.

“Council utilised a lot of its own event equipment or loan infrastructure from event supporters for this area.”

Image: Flickr/bayasaa

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