The City of Sydney's repeated contract extensions to Foti Fireworks International for the New Year's Eve fireworks display have raised questions about fairness and transparency in the selection process.
The City of Sydney has granted multiple contract extensions to Foti Fireworks International, the company responsible for the renowned New Year's Eve fireworks for 27 years. The city has bypassed a public tender process on several occasions, raising concerns about the fairness of the arrangement. Since 2006, the City of Sydney has awarded at least seven contract extensions to Foti Fireworks International without re-tendering the work.
In 2022, the council granted the company an exemption from tendering, citing pandemic-related uncertainties. While there are no allegations of wrongdoing, the repeated contract extensions and exemptions favor the incumbent company. Dr. Andy Asquith, a scholar specializing in local council governance, expressed the need for transparency in the process. He questioned why no other company could match or surpass Foti's performance over such an extended period. Foti Fireworks International has been contracted since 1997, with contracts typically lasting three to four years before the extensions began. From 2011 onwards, extensions were granted repeatedly, including in 2015, 2016, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2023. Excluding the extended years, the council has spent at least $18.4 million on contracts with Foti. The most recent contract, covering 2024 and 2025, cost the city $7.8 million. The council stated it considered various criteria in its decision, such as innovation, creativity, and strategic thinking. However, Asquith criticized the criteria as vague and open to multiple interpretations, suggesting the tender document lacked clarity
CONTRACTS COMPETITION FIREWORKS SYDNEY TRANSPARENCY
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