W McKell
The State Government’s inability to understand the basic economic concept of return on investment is one thing; however the sad paradox described above is symptomatic of a government with no vision, no strategic sight, bereft of moral courage and hopelessly out-of-touch with its people. Where backroom deals, scandal, maladministration and incompetence are all part of the normal machinery of government and the public are simply distractions to dubious business transactions.
The Australian Wooden Boat Festival was more than a quaint get-together of enthusiasts. It was a brief window into what could be (or could have been). But now that the beauty and pageantry is over, it’s time for the lost people of Tasmania to reflect on their lost opportunity. It’s time for the grey and vision-less cargo-cult of the 1950s to start churning again and the dealers to continue their theft.
WITH State Parliament about to sit again, it’s now time for all to embrace the Wooden Head Festival — where many empty vessels compete to make the most sound.
For those who had the good fortune to see the other wooden festival in town (aka the Australian Wooden Boat Festival 2007) not only was this a splendid sight and a great pleasure but it was a powerful symbol for what Tasmania could be. The beauty of these vessels, the dedication and craftsperson-ship — all a fine example to the world of the talent and natural splendour that this island has to offer.
The Wooden Boat Festival is the embodiment of the true desires of the Tasmanian people as expressed in the original vision of Tasmania Together — before this
exercise was corrupted into its present bastardised form and dumped by the community on the scrapheap of well-deserved cynicism.
More pointedly the Australian Wooden Boat Festival 2007 attracted more than 50,000 visitors with about $750,000 in ticket sales alone. This does not include any income from the subsidiary events and sales. Indeed Salamanca shops and the Hobart CBD were abuzz with international and interstate visitors. Cashed-up visitors mingled with
the crowds from the visiting US Liner Venus Cruise, the HMAS Newcastle and the streets of Battery Point were a sea of Winnebago Campers. Motel car parks throughout the city were full of interstate number plates and hire cars.
The true economic value of the Australian Wooden Boat Festival to the Tasmanian economy must be definable in the millions if not tens of millions.
Yet every year the paltry return to the Tasmanian public from the bulk destruction of these special timbers is a miserly few millions [Forestry Tasmania] and this year’s budget has a projected return of a pathetic one million dollars. The State Government contribution to boat festival is about $200,000.
The Australian Wooden Boat Festival happens to fall on the long weekend of Hobart Cup Day. On this day, punters handed over $321,000 at the Tote — less than half the value of boat festival ticket sales and about the same amount of money that Mr Lennon may hand to Tote CEO Terry Clarke for one year of his two year contract buy-out deal (golden hand shake). However the cruel irony is that the State Government has happily handed over an obscene $27.1 million for the redevelopment of Elwick Racecourse.
The State Government’s inability to understand the basic economic concept of return on investment is one thing; however the sad paradox described above is symptomatic of a government with no vision, no strategic sight, bereft of moral courage and hopelessly out-of-touch with its people. Where backroom deals, scandal, maladministration and incompetence are all part of the normal machinery of government and the public are simply distractions to dubious business transactions.
The Australian Wooden Boat Festival was more than a quaint get-together of enthusiasts. It was a brief window into what could be (or could have been). But now that the beauty and pageantry is over, it’s time for the lost people of Tasmania to reflect on their lost opportunity. It’s time for the grey and vision-less cargo-cult of the 1950s to start churning again and the dealers to continue their theft.
