Dr Amanda Cohn (centre, green dress) at the Sydney Mardi Gras 2025. Photo: Dr Amanda Cohn/Facebook.
Albury-based Greens MP Amanda Cohn has called for guaranteed annual state funding of LGBTQIA+ events, after the Shadow Arts Minister said government support for the Sydney Mardi Gras should be reviewed.
Her comments come months after the annual Wagga Mardi Gras had to be cancelled due to lack of financial sponsorship.
This week, Liberal MP Chris Rath took aim at its Sydney equivalent – the famous street parade that’s been staged each year since 1978.
“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.
The Minns Labor Government quickly rejected his call for the funding to be reviewed, saying cutting support would have a detrimental impact on Sydney’s LGBTQIA+ community and on tourism.
However, Dr Cohn said this wasn’t good enough.
“The NSW Labor Government did the bare minimum today by backing in existing funding arrangements, but in the face of the Liberal Party’s toxic political culture war they must secure funding for the continuation of Pride events across the state,” she said.
“With no dedicated funding stream in NSW, LGBTQIA+ community events are vulnerable, despite their enormous cultural and social value,” she said.
The Albury MP pointed out that the annual Wagga Mardi Gras had to be cancelled this year due to lack of sponsorship. This decision was made after Coles decided to withdraw funding, and Charles Sturt University substantially scaled back its contribution.
Wagga’s Mardi Gras attracted visitors from across the country but folded in 2025. Photo: Supplied.
Dr Cohn said LGBTQIA+ events in NSW were often left to rely on piecemeal fundraising and short-term grants, with no specific or long-term government funding.
“If the government can support commercial arts and cultural festivals, there’s nothing stopping them from securing the future of these events,” she said.
In response to the controversy, Mr Rath sought to clarify his position in NSW Parliament on Thursday (6 February).
“The reality is that there is no problem with reviewing the funding when the afterparty has been cancelled because [the Sydney] Mardi Gras is essentially going bust,” he said.
“There is no problem with reviewing the funding when activists push for police to be banned from marching at Mardi Gras. There is no problem with reviewing the funding when Jews are told that they are not welcome to march at Mardi Gras. There is no problem with reviewing the funding when the Liberal Party is constantly threatened with its float being banned at Mardi Gras. Those people at Pride and Progress, who are trying to hijack the Mardi Gras, have absolutely no place in the organisation. The funding should absolutely be reviewed.”
Dr Cohn said the Mardi Gras remained as relevant as ever because LGBTQIA+ people “continue to face discrimination under existing laws”.
“Faith-based institutions, including schools, hospitals and housing providers, can still legally discriminate against queer people under federal law,” she said.
“This week, the Greens again called on both the NSW and Federal governments to remove religious exemptions from anti-discrimination laws that undermine human rights and cause real harm.”
