Opera House Racing Advertising

[Black Orchid]

Prime Minister Scott Morrison says the Sydney Harbour Bridge should also be used to advertise sporting events and described opponents of the move to display racing ads on the Opera House sails as “precious”.

Speaking in the regional NSW town of Blayney on Sunday, Mr Morrison, formerly the chief of Tourism Australia, backed NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian’s controversial decision to allow a promotion for The Everest horse race to be beamed onto the world heritage-listed architectural marvel.

The decision has attracted strident opposition from some quarters of the community who say it cheapens the globally recognised building.

“This is one of the biggest events of the year. Why not put it on the biggest billboard Sydney has?” Mr Morrison said.

“I come from a tourism background, these events generate massive opportunities for the state, for the city.”

Fresh from visiting the Bathurst 100 motor racing event, Mr Morrison said he would “put the Bathurst 1000 on the Harbour Bridge if I thought it was going to get more people there”.

“It’s just common sense and I don't know why people are getting so precious about it,” he said.

>snip<

Ms Berejiklian’s decision overruled that of Opera House chief executive Louise Herron who had refused Racing NSW’s proposal to light up the Opera House sails with colours, numbers and a trophy to promote next Saturday’s Everest race.

A petition circulated via Change.org in support of Ms Herron had gathered more than 60,000 signatures on Sunday evening.

Ms Berejiklian has defended her decision, saying she was "absolutely confident" the advertising display on the city's most iconic building was "the right thing for Sydney".

The government’s intervention to enable Racing NSW to promote the event on the building followed a hostile interview between Ms Herron and 2GB broadcaster Alan Jones on Friday morning.

https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/the ... 5087m.html

Yet another shockingly bad decision by Gladys. Scott Morrison is a fool and should have either opposed it or just shut the heck up! Backing Gladys' idiot decisions will not fare well for him.

[Rorschach]

Personally I think Jones is passed his use by date and a bully.
I disagree with the sails being used for anything except for things like vivid.
However the precedent has already been set re advertising.

[Black Orchid]

A decision by the NSW government to allow horse racing advertising to be projected onto the sails of the Sydney Opera House could be illegal, according to experts.

The state government is standing by its decision to force Opera House management to promote the $13 million Everest horse race but National Trust NSW conservation director Graham Quint says projecting commercial material onto the sails contravenes state laws.

"They've gone with a decision that we think probably is not legal," Mr Quint told AAP on Monday.

"It may be in breach of the Heritage Act."

Mr Quint says the legislation makes clear that projecting colours and images onto the sails should be "confined to exceptional, non-commercial occasions of brief duration".

A petition against the plan to use the Opera House as a billboard has reached 170,000 signatures in three days.

Left-leaning think tank the Australia Institute has written to Premier Gladys Berejiklian and federal Environment Minister Melissa Price suggesting the light show could also breach commonwealth environment laws.

https://www.sbs.com.au/news/opera-house ... -trust-nsw

I agree that Alan Jones is past his use by date. I also can't wait to get rid of Gladys!

Here is a petition if anyone wants to sign it ...

https://www.change.org/p/defend-our-ope ... igned=true

[Black Orchid]

Low class bogan idea in very bad taste!

[Rorschach]

The Opera House is a cultural Icon... and architectural marvel and should not be cheapened by people from advertising that think its a billboard. Get that intaya Scomo...

[cods]

I cant see anything wrong with it to be honest......its a race in a million... we light the building up at every chance..

come on guys surely you have better things to worry about then a 10 min ad?

shesssze...

they can use my roof if they pay for it...

[Rorschach]

There is a difference between an Opera House and a Billboard and if you read my initial post you understand my pov because I explained it... obviously you didn't read it.

[Black Orchid]

Sorry Cods but I definitely do object to the first thing people see when flying into Sydney Harbour being used to advertise racing and gambling.

If gambling is apparently ok why not alcohol or cigarettes?

I just do not think it should be violated to promote gambling.

EDIT: To be honest I had never even heard of The Everest until this blew up. Apparently it only started in 2017

[Rorschach]

Yes, its the brainchild of Sydney Racing to make it as big as the Melbourne Cup... IMO... wont ever happen... they just threw money at it.... thinking that making it the most prize money for a Turf Race in the World. Mind you you get into it by buying a place.

[sprintcyclist]

Personally I think Jones is passed his use by date and a bully.
I disagree with the sails being used for anything except for things like vivid.
However the precedent has already been set re advertising.

I agree.

Never liked Alan Jones.