Masters Games Contract Awarded to Darwin Company

Shadow Minister for Central Australia, Matt Conlan, has expressed his outrage that the merchandising contract for the 2008 Alice Springs Masters Games has been awarded to a Darwin-based company.

"You have to wonder whether this Government could locate Alice Springs on a map because they have no idea how the town's economy functions,” says Matt Conlan.

"The merchandising contract for the Masters Games is one of the bread and butter contracts of the Alice Springs economy.

"This is the first time in the history of the Masters Games that the contract has not been awarded to a local Central Australian company.

"Giving the merchandising contract for the Alice Springs Masters Games to a Darwin-based company is like the Government picking the pockets of the people of Alice Springs.

"Moving the profit from this contract to Darwin will result in less expenditure in local businesses and hence less employment in town.

"It's not just one small business that will miss out on the spoils, but many others around Alice Springs.

"This is another case of Central Australia being overlooked by a Darwin-centric Government.

"I call on the Minister for Central Australia to ensure this never happens again.”

2008-04-10