Grand prix ball axed as . . .
The Age
Friday March 11, 2011
THE Australian Grand Prix's lavish annual ball has been dumped and replaced with a more austere reception after a demand by Premier Ted Baillieu to cut costs.The change, confirmed by Grand Prix Corporation chairman Ron Walker, comes amid questions over the race's future in Melbourne because of its soaring cost to taxpayers. Losses topped $50 million last year and have been tipped to rise to $70 million.Instead of the annual black-tie ball, which last year cost $795 to attend and included a performance from Gabriella Cilmi, race teams and dignitaries will be welcomed by Mr Baillieu at a 6pm stand-up drinks and finger-food function at Government House.But there is disagreement over whether dumping the ball represents the beginning of austerity measures.Mr Walker, who is attempting to pare back at least $1 million in costs, denied this was a consideration. "The grand prix ball had been going for 15 years and it is very hard to create new ideas every year for a function like that," he said. "No other grand prix has a ball or official dinner any more. Even the rich Arab states just don't do it because people don't want it and the teams are too busy in the week to down tools and come."He conceded, however, that the new function would cost substantially less. "It is cheaper because people stand up and have finger food rather than a sit down dinner and you haven't got all the overhead costs of a Crown Casino or some other venue," he said.Mr Walker also confirmed that a financial statement on the event would be prepared for "early release", instead of the usual year-long wait before losses are revealed.Major Events Minister Louise Asher insisted that the ball was dropped to cut costs. "The Premier has asked for the Grand Prix Corporation to cut costs and that is the long and the short of it," she said.
© 2011 The Age