ABS responds to Sydney Opera House promotion costs (ABC Online 23/12/16)
Uma Patel’s online article, Census 2016: Sydney Opera House promotion cost taxpayers nearly $200,000, internal documents show, states the ABS spent $192,000 to illuminate the sails of the Sydney Opera House. This is incorrect. The project was revised prior to implementation and the actual expenditure was $14,850.
As a heritage listed building, there are guidelines governing which images and colours can be projected onto the sails, this includes branding. The ABS did not pursue the option to project MyCensus on the sails of the Sydney Opera House, instead lighting the sails green.