NSW 24-hour economy commissioner faces scrutiny over overseas travel

New South Wales 24-hour economy commissioner Michael Rodrigues is facing parliamentary scrutiny following reports of nine overseas trips taken since February 2024. The travel, which included visits to cities such as London, Madrid, Hong Kong, Beijing, Amsterdam, Singapore, Barcelona, and San Francisco, involved stays in boutique hotels and travel via premium economy or business class.

Critics have questioned the expenditure, noting that the travel occurred while the Australian Design Centre was forced to close due to a lack of government funding. A parliamentary inquiry previously suggested that efforts to revive Sydney’s night-time economy have come at a direct cost to the state’s arts and culture sectors.

A spokesperson for the NSW Department of Creative Industries stated that the commissioner’s role involves raising the international profile of Sydney and New South Wales to attract investment and tourism. Arts and Night-time Economy Minister John Graham defended the travel, stating it helped restore Sydney’s reputation among global “thought leaders.”