The government has rejected calls to review its funding for the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.
The Minns Labor Government has rejected calls from the Liberal Party to review its funding for the Mardi Gras parade in the wake of the after party cancellation.
In parliament today, Shadow Minister for the Arts Chris Rath called on the government to review its funding of Mardi Gras due to what he described as “left-wing extremists”.
“What should be a major tourism attraction for Sydney is being hijacked by left-wing extremists who are using their positions to import foreign conflicts to our city,” he said.
“It’s unfortunate this is having an impact on the viability of the festival.”
Rath said the government should review its commitment in line with broader community expectations, as well as due to some of the financial struggles the organisation has faced.
“The reality is that there is no problem with reviewing the funding when Mardi Gras is essentially going bust,” he said.
“There is no problem with reviewing the funding when they’ve had to cancel their after party because Mardi Gras is essentially going bust.”
The Shadow Minister claimed Mardi Gras had become less inclusive, which he placed squarely at the hands of activists.
“These people, Pride in Protest, that are trying to hijack the Mardi Gras have absolutely no place in that organisation,” he said.
Shadow Minister for the Environment Jacqui Munro backed up Rath, saying Pride in Protest seeks to shut down groups they don’t agree with.
“Pride in Protest is always going to march… they are so destructive to our community. They are so antithetical in their values to inclusion and cohesiveness,” she said.
However, the government dismissed the concerns, with Minister for the Environment Penny Sharpe defending the festival.
“I don’t know what’s happened to the opposition today, I think there’s been a bit of a brain explosion,” she said.
“To suggest that the New South Wales Government should review its funding commitment to the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras based on a group of people who do not represent all of the board, or indeed all of the membership of Mardi Gras, is an extraordinary step. It’s an extraordinary, disappointing step from the Liberal Party.”
In 2025, the parade attracted more than 30,000 visitors to Sydney and injected over $39 million into the visitor economy, with 11,000 people participating across more than 180 floats.
Minister for the Arts John Graham said Mardi Gras played a significant cultural role in the country, which all political sides have proudly funded since 2009.
“The Minns Labor Government rejects the call to review the funding commitment – we will not defund the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade,” he said.
“We will not cancel the Mardi Gras parade.”
Mardi Gras CEO Jesse Matheson thanked the government for its clear statement of support.
“At a time when festivals and Pride events across the country are facing existential pressures, public funding is more important than ever,” he said.
“We look forward to welcoming hundreds of thousands of people to Sydney this month for a Festival that celebrates connection, creativity and pride, and showcases the cultural energy that Mardi Gras brings to the city each year.”
Independent MP Alex Greenwich also threw his support behind Mardi Gras, saying he was prepared to do the work to assist the community.
“Now is the time to support Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, help them thrive, and be the platform for progress that they continue to be,” he said.
“It would be more helpful for Mr Rath to reflect on why he and his party opposed the LGBTQ Equality Bill, rather than seek to start a conservative pile-on at a time of need for our community.”
Rath was one of twelve people who voted against Greenwich’s omnibus Equality Bill last year.
