Community & places · Inner West Council
Inner West approves $150,000 Mardi Gras sponsorship for 2027, leaves 2028 funding to budget process
The council will partner with Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras across its 2027 and 2028 programs, but the proposed second $150,000 payment is not yet confirmed.
Reporting from draft minutes. Recorded wording may change when confirmed. How this article was prepared
Inner West Council has approved $150,000 for Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras’ 2027 program, with the sponsorship to be funded through the council’s second-quarter budget review. The recorded resolution also provides for a partnership for the organisation’s 2027 and 2028 programs.
A further $150,000 is to be included in consideration of the 2027/28 budget. That wording does not approve a confirmed 2028 payment, and the amount remains subject to the later budget process.
The resolution records council in-kind support through fee waivers and gives the general manager authority to negotiate the final increase in partnership benefits accompanying the sponsorship. It also requires a report in August 2027 outlining the proposed 2028 program.
The item was dealt with in confidential session under a Local Government Act provision concerning information that could prejudice a supplier’s commercial position. The public minutes record the resolution as carried, with no votes against. Councillor Mat Howard had declared a non-significant, non-pecuniary interest because his spouse is a volunteer co-chair of Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. The minutes record him leaving before the item and absent from the vote.
The minutes are marked unconfirmed. They do not state the value of the fee waivers or the final partnership benefits. The resolution leaves the final increase in partnership benefits to be negotiated.
What deserves a closer look
The 2027 sponsorship has a specified funding source, while the 2028 amount is recorded only for future budget consideration.
The value of the fee waivers and the final partnership benefits is not stated in the public minutes. The resolution authorises negotiation of the final increase in partnership benefits, not negotiation of the fee waivers.
Questions for follow-up reporting
Will the proposed $150,000 for 2028 be included in the adopted 2027/28 budget?
What is the value of the fee waivers, and what final increase in partnership benefits will be agreed?
What 2028 program will be outlined in the August 2027 report?
What happens next
Fund the $150,000 2027 sponsorship through the second-quarter budget review.
Negotiate the final increase in partnership benefits through the general manager.
Receive a report in August 2027 outlining the proposed 2028 program.
Consider the further $150,000 sponsorship as part of the 2027/28 budget process.
Check the record
These passages were matched to the source text. Read them in context in the original minutes.
The motion proposes that Council enter into a partnership with Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras for the 2027 and 2028 programs and provide $150,000 in sponsorship for the 2027 program, funded through the second-quarter budget review.
Councillor Fergusson returned to the Meeting at 8:52 pm. Councillor Howard left the Meeting at 8:52 pm. Council Meeting 10 November 2026 25 RESOLUTIONS PASSED DURING CLOSED SESSION C1126(1) Item 15 Mardi Gras Council Support Motion: (D'Arienzo/Atkins) That Council: 1. Enter into a partnership with the Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras for the 2027 and 2028 programs. 2. Provide sponsorship to Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras of $150,000 for the 2027 program to be funded through the second quarter budget review.
C1126(1) Item 15 Mardi Gras Council Support, resolutions passed during closed session
Open original minutes ↗The resolution includes $150,000 for the 2028 program as part of 2027/28 budget consideration, notes in-kind support for fee waivers, delegates negotiation of the final commensurate increase in partnership benefits to the general manager and calls for an August 2027 report on the proposed 2028 program.
3. Include $150,000 in sponsorship funding for the 2028 program as part of the 2027/2028 budget consideration. 4. Note Council's in kind support for fee waivers. 5. Delegate to the General Manager to negotiate the final commensurate increase in partnership benefits that sit alongside the increased sponsorship. 6. Receive a report in August 2027 outlining the proposed program for 2028. Motion Carried For Motion: Crs Antoniou, Atkins, Barlow, Blake, Byrne, Carlisle, Clay, D'Arienzo, Fergusson, Scott, Smith and Tastan Against Motion: Nil Absent: Crs Macri and Howard Councillor Howard returned to the Meeting at 8:53 pm.
C1126(1) Item 15 Mardi Gras Council Support, clauses 3–6 and vote
Open original minutes ↗The minutes list Item 15, Mardi Gras Council Support, for closed-session consideration under section 10A(2)(d)(i) of the Local Government Act 1993, citing prejudice to the commercial position of the person who supplied the information if it were disclosed.
Confidential Session That in accordance with Section 10A(1) of the Local Government Act 1993, the following matters be considered in Closed Session of Council for the reasons provided: C1126(1) Item 15 Mardi Gras Council Support (Section 10A(2)(d)(i) of the Local Government Act 1993) that would, if disclosed prejudice the commercial position of the person who supplied it.
Confidential Session, Item 15 Mardi Gras Council Support
Open original minutes ↗Councillor Howard declared a non-significant, non-pecuniary interest because his spouse is a volunteer co-chair of Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras and said he would leave during discussion and voting.
He will remain in the meeting during discussion and voting on the matter as the conflict does not influence him in carrying out his public duty. Council Meeting 10 November 2026 3 Councillor Howard declared a non-significant, non-pecuniary interest in Item 15 – Mardi Gras Council Support as his spouse is the volunteer co-chair of Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. Out of an abundance of caution he will leave the meeting during discussion and voting on the matter. Councillor Clay declared a non-significant, non-pecuniary interest in Item 1 - Post Exhibition - Draft Inner West Development Control Plan and Solar Panels Policy as her primary residence is located in the Local Government Area.
Disclosures of interest, Item 15 Mardi Gras Council Support
Open original minutes ↗Councillor Howard is recorded as leaving the meeting before the closed-session Mardi Gras item.
Councillor Fergusson returned to the Meeting at 8:52 pm. Councillor Howard left the Meeting at 8:52 pm. Council Meeting 10 November 2026 25 RESOLUTIONS PASSED DURING CLOSED SESSION C1126(1) Item 15 Mardi Gras Council Support Motion: (D'Arienzo/Atkins) That Council: 1.
Departure recorded immediately before Item 15 Mardi Gras Council Support
Open original minutes ↗The motion is recorded as carried with no votes against, with Councillors Macri and Howard absent.
6. Receive a report in August 2027 outlining the proposed program for 2028. Motion Carried For Motion: Crs Antoniou, Atkins, Barlow, Blake, Byrne, Carlisle, Clay, D'Arienzo, Fergusson, Scott, Smith and Tastan Against Motion: Nil Absent: Crs Macri and Howard Councillor Howard returned to the Meeting at 8:53 pm.
C1126(1) Item 15 Mardi Gras Council Support, vote
Open original minutes ↗The record is labelled unconfirmed minutes from the ordinary council meeting held on 10 November 2026.
PUBLIC SPEAKERS: Item # Speaker Suburb Item 7: Nikki Ellis Birchgrove Item 8: Jo Burton Sander Ottes Mia Lewin Dan Conway Ashfield Annandale Enmore Marrickville Item 9: Rose Doolan Karl Sekulla Rojan Bajgain Tempe Sydenham Sydenham Item 15: Tracie Miller Sydney Item 27: Mirabel Somers Dulwich Hill Item 28: Chris Gray Croydon Item 35: Ellis Bou-Harb Marrickville Unconfirmed minutes from the Ordinary Council meeting held on 10 November 2026.
Closing source-status label
Open original minutes ↗Source record
Reporting from the unconfirmed public minutes of Inner West Council’s ordinary meeting on 10 November 2026.
Key facts from the minutes
- Council resolved to provide $150,000 sponsorship for the 2027 Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras program through the second-quarter budget review.
- A further $150,000 is to be included in the 2027/28 budget consideration, rather than being approved as a confirmed 2028 payment.
- Council agreed to partner with Mardi Gras for the 2027 and 2028 programs and noted in-kind support through fee waivers.
- The general manager is authorised to negotiate the final increase in partnership benefits, and a report on the proposed 2028 program is due in August 2027.
- The minutes record Councillor Howard absent from the vote after declaring an interest connected with his spouse’s role as a volunteer co-chair.
Why it matters
- The resolution confirms $150,000 in 2027 sponsorship for Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras, while a possible equivalent payment in 2028 remains subject to the 2027/28 budget process.