Remember the brouhaha over the state government funding of Catholic World Youth day to the tune of 20 million dollars of taxpayer money. Their argument being that if you want to secure events for your city, and reap the tourism dollar you’ve got to grease the palms of the organisers (unless of course you’re organising and atheist conference in which case your required to fully fund things yourself).
Well it seems that the estimated 20 million dollar cost has blown out to 84 million:
HEATH ASTON from the SMH reports
THE cost to NSW of hosting World Youth Day came in $64 million over budget, according to an Auditor-General’s report that raises serious questions about the profligacy of the government in securing major events.
The scathing report, which has not yet been released publicly, accuses the NSW government of a track record of ”underestimating” the cost of funding major events.
From an original estimate of $20 million, the global Catholic get-together in July 2008 blew out to a total cost to taxpayers of $86 million. Some $41 million – more than double the original estimate for the entire event – was paid to the Australian Jockey Club and the racing industry for the use of Randwick Racecourse for the mass conducted by Pope Benedict XVI.
So $64 million to support the recruitment drive of the Roman Catholic Church.
What century are we living in again?
Related posts:
- Australian Priest recruitment up due to world youth day. According to the Catholic News Agency: A record number of...
- World Youth Day Interviews Via News.com.au comes the Faith Off (thorry for thpitting)...
- Inaction by Catholic Education responsible for child rape. Pretend for a moment that you are a Catholic School...
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[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Campbell Fuller, SeandBlogonaut. SeandBlogonaut said: RT @seandblogonaut Catholic World Youth Day creates blow out in State coffers http://bit.ly/97fsXk [...]
About 28% of NSW's 6.5 million residents, about 1.82 million, are cathlicks. We'd get our $84 million back when each of them ponies up the $46.15 they owe the state- make it an even $50 to cover collection costs.
My goodness, Sean! What is going on Down Under? Are you guys trying to become the New South (reference to the American South, and its uh, unique cultural quirks)?
No, we are so flush with money that we throw it at churches who need it to pay victims of child abuse
Don't governments love wasting money on stupid events. Yet This useless event was funded and the Global Atheist Convention did not get one brass razoo …from any Government. I can hear Sir Humphrey Appleby. Remember when The Minister wanted to sell an old art gallery to fund his local football club. Humphrey went ballistic over that.
I would like to know how/if they have calculated the benefit to the Taxpayer from the event
[...] Sean the Blogonaut notes that the tax-payer funded recruitment drive for the Catholic Church (World Youth Day) came in AU$64 million over budget- and considering that the original budget was AU$20 million, that is quite remarkable. My government -whom I supported- paid $AU86 million so that the leader of an organisation responsible for millions of AIDS- and forced pregnancy-related deaths could come to Australia and go a-recruitin’. [...]
Me thinks I must buy a paddock or two.
Might be worth your while
So we WERE right all along. A complete waste of money resulting from a celebration of medieval superstition. More than one WYD supporter referred to freethinkers as party poopers.
It's worth noting that the Popes visit to England may be in doubt due to spiraling costs, mind you the church is being required to pay about 24 million which has them baulking it seems.