The Liberals’ Brendan Smyth is taking a great deal of pleasure in the shift of emphasis for the Enlighten festival:
In another embarrassing blow to the ACT Labor Government’s attempt to create a major new autumn event, the much-vaunted ‘Enlighten’ has now been downgraded in the latest promotional materials to a ‘part of’ and ‘highlight of’ the Canberra Festival, according to ACT Shadow Tourism Minister, Brendan Smyth.
“The Canberra community can now see how uncommitted and ill-prepared Andrew Barr was in his attempt to create a new autumn event,” Mr Smyth said today. Andrew Barr promised:
— “a major autumn event? [ALP media release, 13 September 2008]
— “a new autumn event? [email from Mr Barr, 12 January 2009]
— “Once an event has been selected, it would be given hallmark status?. [contract with Ernst & Young, 26 May 2009]
— “Andrew Barr today launched a major annual event that will premiere in March 2011? [Andrew Barr, media release, 13 December 2010].“Unfortunately for the people of Canberra, Andrew Barr has completely failed to deliver on his proposed major new autumn event.
“His failure has been so abject that, after admitting that there will be a “new look Enlighten 2012?, we now know that – in reality – Enlighten is no more.
And considering this was announced two months ago it’s nice to see Brendan Smyth has awoken from his extended slumber.