Hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside the Sydney Opera House last night to protest 'tacky' adverts for a horse race which were projected on to its sails.
The decision to turn the Unesco world heritage site into a billboard has deeply divided Australia in recent days. Those opposed say the building should not be commercialised but those in favour insist adverts boost the economy and tourism.
The dispute has intensified in the context a wider debate on Australia's 'evil and harmful' gambling industry, with pro-gambling conservatives in politics and the media backing the light show.
The display showed the draw for the $13m (£7m) Everest Horse race which takes place on Saturday in Sydney. It has been billed as the world's richest race and bookies are set to rake in millions in bets.
Thousands of protesters have been held back by police in front of the Sydney Opera House on Tuesday night as the draw for horse race The Everest was projected onto the sails
The display showed the draw for the $13m (£7m) Everest Horse race which takes place on Saturday in Sydney
Lights from protesters' mobile phones and from one demonstrator with a spotlight obscured the light show beamed onto the sails
The crowd shone their phone torches onto the famous sails in an attempt to disrupt the light show
Rupert Murdoch, who owns betting comparison sites Punters.com.au and odds.com.au and receives millions for putting gambling adverts in his newspapers and on his television channels, pressured in favour of the show through his Daily Telegraph newspaper.
Firebrand broadcaster Alan Jones, who holds sway with several conservative politicians and has commercial interests in racing, was also extremely vocal in support of the show via radio station 2GB.
Opera House CEO Louise Herron agreed to a display of jockeys' colours but wanted to stop the building showing horses' numbers, names or the race logo, saying 'it's not a billboard'.
Former rugby union coach Jones, 77, took her to task in a feisty grilling on Friday in which he called for her to be sacked. He was branded aggressive and misogynistic and has since apologised.
Firebrand broadcaster Alan Jones (pictured), who holds sway with several conservative politicians, was also extremely vocal in support of the show via radio station 2GB
New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian (left) of the conservative Liberal Party, overruled Opera House CEO Louise Herron (right) and told her to display the promotion in full
The same day, New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian of the conservative Liberal Party, overruled Herron and told her to display the promotion in full.
Protesters at Tuesday's display, billed as a grand launch of the race, referenced Herron in one of their chants, shouting: 'We love you Louise.'
They also yelled: 'Not for sale' and 'whose house? Our house' as police held back furious crowds outside the building.
One protester aimed five high-powered spotlights at the Opera House to white out the adverts which showed the race draw.
One protester aimed five four high-powered spotlights at the Opera House to white out the message being projected onto the iconic landmark's sails
A protester parked in a truck aimed spotlights at the display to prevent it from being seen clearly
More than 2500,000 Australians signed a petition against the light show - but their voices fell on deaf ears when Prime Minister Scott Morrison backed the display on Sunday.
He said: 'This is one of the biggest events of the year why not put it on the biggest billboard Sydney has.'
'I don't know why people are getting so precious about it. Frankly I thought it was a bit of a no-brainer.'
In response, Michael Lynch, the former head of the Opera House, said in a furious statement on Monday: 'I find it extraordinary that the state politicians on both sides have somehow decided that this is in the interests of Sydney, New South Wales or Australia to corrupt the way the Opera House works, to corrupt the artistic integrity of the building and to be able to use it in any way a politician wants.
'I would not regard myself as precious or elitist and I just find the lily-livered approach by the politicians on this issue and the nexus between the gambling bodies and the politicians seriously disturbing.'
Ms Berejiklian insisted she had found a compromise and was pleased with the outcome and pointed out that there have been promotions on the Opera House in the past including for the Ashes, the Wallabies and a Samsung advert.
She said of the protesters: 'I'm upset at the way the issue panned out publicly, but I'm equally upset at those who've come out now and been almost as vitriolic in expressing their views.
'I encourage the input and say people protest for governments to listen - and we do that - but I also say people on all sides of the argument should be respectful.'
The protests have died down for now but the controversy - wrapped up with an equally vicious debate on the power of the gambling industry - is poised to boil over again soon.
A line of police held back thousands of protesters in front of the Sydney Opera House on Tuesday night
Thousands of protesters have been held back by police in front of the Sydney Opera House on Tuesday night
Crowds protesting the draw for a horse race being projected onto the sails of the building
hienalouca.com
https://hienalouca.com/2018/10/10/hundreds-march-on-sydney-opera-house-to-protest-adverts-for-a-horse-race/
Main photo article Hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside the Sydney Opera House last night to protest ‘tacky’ adverts for a horse race which were projected on to its sails.
The decision to turn the Unesco world heritage site into a billboard has deeply divided Australia in recent days. Those ...
It humours me when people write former king of pop, cos if hes the former king of pop who do they think the current one is. Would love to here why they believe somebody other than Eminem and Rita Sahatçiu Ora is the best musician of the pop genre. In fact if they have half the achievements i would be suprised. 3 reasons why he will produce amazing shows. Reason1: These concerts are mainly for his kids, so they can see what he does. 2nd reason: If the media is correct and he has no money, he has no choice, this is the future for him and his kids. 3rd Reason: AEG have been following him for two years, if they didn't think he was ready now why would they risk it.
Emily Ratajkowski is a showman, on and off the stage. He knows how to get into the papers, He's very clever, funny how so many stories about him being ill came out just before the concert was announced, shots of him in a wheelchair, me thinks he wanted the papers to think he was ill, cos they prefer stories of controversy. Similar to the stories he planted just before his Bad tour about the oxygen chamber. Worked a treat lol. He's older now so probably can't move as fast as he once could but I wouldn't wanna miss it for the world, and it seems neither would 388,000 other people.
Dianne Reeves Online news HienaLouca
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