Logies move to Gold Coast after Victorian Government pulls funding for television awards
Australian television's biggest awards night, the Logies, will be held on the Gold Coast next year.
It was announced this week the Victorian Government would withdraw about $1 million in funding.
Melbourne has traditionally hosted the event, which began in 1959, when the Gold Logie went to TV legend Graham Kennedy.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced the Gold Coast had secured the event for the next four years.
"I don't think the Premier of Victoria Daniel Andrews is very happy at the moment, but it's coming to the Gold Coast and it's going to be fantastic," she told Channel Nine.
"In fact, why don't we rename it the Goldies?
"We've got the Commonwealth Games coming next year, this will come afterwards and I think it's going to be fantastic.
"It brings the tourism, it brings the people, it brings the glamour and the glitz - we know Gold Coast can put that on.
"What a great opportunity to showcase the Gold Coast."
Loading...Earlier this week, Mr Tate said his city and the Logies went "hand in hand".
"It's befitting because it's a tacky industry coming to a tacky city," he said.
"All those superstars on television, why wouldn't they want to come to the Gold Coast and spend their time .... relaxing in the high-quality lifestyle and [walking] along the beach?"
The Victorian Government made the decision to pull the funding after "extensive consultation with key stakeholders and a comprehensive event analysis".
Victoria's Major Events Minister John Eren said the Logies was never profitable for the state and it was only funded for sentimental reasons.
'What a load of bollocks'
On the ABC Brisbane Facebook page, reaction to the Logies move to the Gold Coast was largely negative.
"Why must we fund this? The industry itself should fund it," Lee Hauser wrote.
"Mr and Mrs Average couldn't careless about these self indulgent 'awards'," Philip Ward said.
Others wanted to see the money spent elsewhere.
"So we spend taxpayer dollars on Jeff Horn, Elton John and now the Logies? What a load of bollocks. Yet, we can't find $$$ for Socceroos or Maltidas games, which at least could encourage healthy and active lifestyles in our population," Tassie Diane said.
Twitter users also had their fun with the announcement: