WHY DOES VILLAGE ROADSHOW GIVE MILLIONS TO LIBS?
No one in Melbourne’s media has ever pondered if there is any connection between this and the fact that Triple M owner Village Roadshow has been the largest donor to the Liberal Party over the past three years, kicking in more than $2 million. Or was it something to do with the blocking of plans by US cinema company Reading to build a huge multiplex in the Premier’s seat? Reading executives were shocked by the tactics used by Village Roadshow and Hoyts to get it blocked. Then again, the big donations could have related to favourable tax treatment Village was enjoying out of Canberra on film financing schemes. These have now been closed down. Whatever the connection it is a Melbourne one because Village Roadshow is controlled by Melbourne’s Kirby family and the fundraising would have been secured by Ron Walker. The 14 Village cinemas at the Crown complex, which operate 24 hours a day, have also performed well ahead of budget since the permanent casino opened in May 1997. TWO MONTHS AT T
