MEDIA RELEASE

GOLF TOURNAMENT FUNDING A NATIONAL GOVERNMENT FLIP-FLOP

8 MARCH 2017
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Reacting to today's announcement that $5.5 million will be invested into golfing events, the Taxpayers' Union is questioning the Government's continued support of the tournaments despite previously-funded tournaments failing to meet the expected returns.

Taxpayers' Union Executive Director Jordan Williams says, “This is corporate welfare for golf. It's a shameful example of the Government wasting money when there are far greater needs in our communities.”

The money has come from the Government's Major Events Development Fund, which is meant to be for events which expect a return of $4.50 per dollar contributed.

"Has the Government forgotten that the 2012 and 2013 tournaments the taxpayer also funded, the returns were far below the Government's expectations with only $2.55 to the dollar returned? Even those numbers were based on very optimistic assumptions."

"Following these tournaments, then Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce told tournament organisers not to expect to be bankrolled by the taxpayer on an ongoing basis. Today's promise of $5.5 million is a flip-flop."

“Sports funding for grassroots and developing talent is one thing. Funding for one of the world’s richest and elitist sports, is quite another. It’s not like the tournaments are lacking sponsors or those attending are in poverty.”

“Next time Jonathan Coleman tells the public that there is not enough money for front-line health services or cancer drugs, we’ll be asking him why funding golf tournaments in Queenstown is more important that saving people’s lives."

ENDS

© Scoop Media