Tasmanian govt cancels local series

The Tasmanian Government has cancelled a call tenders for a television series designed to promote the state.

The Minister for Economic Development, Michael Aird, said he had not been told an advertisement had been placed in newspapers last weekend and had not signed off on the budget allocation for the project.

“The idea for the series was first mooted by Tasmanian business who wanted to promote Tasmanian innovation and success,” Mr Aird said.

“While the idea for the series was a good one, it cannot be justified in these difficult financial times.”

Mr Aird said withdrawing the tender would potentially save about $500,000.

The series was set to promote the state as “a great place to Live, Work, Visit, Study, Invest and Trade.” Did they leave anything out?

But public sector unions had questioned spending on the Brands Tasmania project while the Government is pushing for a public sector pay freeze.

Richard Dowling from the Chamber of Commerce and Industry says the intent of the program is very laudable but he  questioned whether a TV show is the right vehicle.

“It’s a lot of buck, and we don’t know how much bang we’re going to get yet,” he said.

There is also no guarantee the show would be broadcast outside the state, under the terms of the tender.

Source: ABC, Tas.gov.au