Environment
Islands of Tasmania (2)
Simon Bevilacqua Sunday Tasmanian
A STORM has erupted after the Lennon Government paid a photographer more than $150,000 to produce a book. The Government handed over $154,100 to Richard Bennett to produce his latest photographic book Islands of Tasmania. No tenders were called for the contract and the taxpayer money came from the Premier’s Department, not Arts Tasmania. It is thought to be the largest sum ever paid from state coffers to a photographer to produce a book. The Government defended the funding saying the book would help promote Tasmania. But the contract has drawn severe criticism from within the local art world. Fellow photographer Rob Blakers termed the situation “unprecedented” and called for the Government to explain why tenders were not called.