SYDNEY Mardi Gras Gets Government Funding

It’s the news we’ve all been waiting for – the NSW State Government have just announced that they will be helping to fund Sydney’s Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras for the very first time.

“It’s a really exciting time for Mardi Gras,” General Manager Anna McInerney tells Same Same. “It provides us with the opportunity to plan for future years and do long range planning.”

This means that Mardi Gras will be included in the NSW Master Events Calendar, a schedule of the state’s most significant events, as well as will receive government funding.

The exact amount of funding has not been revealed, “Events NSW don’t reveal any level of funding, it’s not just a New Mardi Gras thing,” says McInerney, adding it will help towards increased production values for the parade, the party and the festival.

Studies have shown that Mardi Gras generates more than $30 million in direct economic benefit to NSW each year.