No More Shootout for Newcastle?

I find it very sad and outrageous that such a wonderful event as the Newcastle Shootout will possibly move to another city because Newcastle City Council won’t fund it (Weekender, NH 28/4:7).

Why must we have to stomach the divisive debate of having to choose between a new Art Gallery, and a Koala enclosure in Blackbutt reserve? Certainly these are the very things we employ a Council to look after and administer. I also don’t understand why the dodgy fiasco over the ‘white elephant’ markets in the mall was never reported to ICAC. Certainly this is a case of gross financial mismanagement.

Why don’t we have similar recourse to withdraw funding from those areas of Council that come up with these hit lists to our essential cultural services?

And why given the financial mess hasn’t the General Manager been made accountable?