Sydney lord mayor Clover Moore and Benja Harney, artist designer of the model that will be the inspiration for NYE projections on the Harbour Bridge. Credit:Edwina Pickles Moore blamed the rising cost of the end-of-year party on increased labour and hire costs because New Year's Eve falls on a weekend, while preparations had taken place over public holidays. City of Sydney Labor councillor Linda Scott accused Moore of wasting ratepayers' money on an exclusive party for her mates. "Each New Year's Eve, the lord mayor's invite-only, exclusive New Year's Eve party is for an elite few. This is not right," Scott said. Liberal councillor Christine Forster said the function should bring together people who are making a significant contribution to the city.

Sydney's New Years Eve celebrations will cost an estimated $7.2 million. Credit:Janie Barrett "Instead the people I see there every year are the same ones I see handing out brochures on Clover Moore's election booths," she said. "Ratepayers' money shouldn't be used to reward Clover Moore Party workers." A City of Sydney spokeswoman, said the lord mayor's party was established well before Moore was elected lord mayor. Sydney lord mayor Clover Moore, with artist Benja Harney, revealing the design for the NYE projections on the Harbour Bridge. Credit:Edwina Pickles "It is a thank you to 1200 event sponsors, community representatives and government partners of Sydney New Year's Eve to acknowledge their contributions."

Politicians, public servants, business people and journalists are among guests who will benefit from the lord mayor's largesse, avoid crowds and enjoy a prime vantage point for the fireworks. Moore said the party at the Sydney Opera House also provided a "a media hub and an executive command post" for broadcasters of the New Year's Eve fireworks.​ All City of Sydney councillors are also invited to attend the party, but Scott said: "Each year, I'm proud to give away my personal NYE tickets to those who have the best idea for the future of our city." Scott said she supported the funding of public NYE events but not the lord mayor's party at the Opera House, which had cost the public more than $3.5 million since 2012. "The funding for each exclusive lord mayoral party could fund a new netball court, new books for our libraries or upgrades for new pocket parks," she said.

"The City of Sydney is desperately in need of more infrastructure and services for our residents and businesses, not an exclusive party for the lord mayor Clover Moore and her mates." The total cost of Sydney's New Year's Eve celebrations this year is an estimated $7.2 million. This includes fireworks and infrastructure at vantage points managed by the City of Sydney, the Lord Mayor's Picnic for children with special needs and their families and carers and multilingual event guides to assist the 1 million people that attend the event. Loading Moore said the broadcast of Sydney's New Year's Eve celebration contributed an estimated $133 million to the city's economy. The cost of the City of Sydney's holiday festivities was revealed at a council meeting earlier this month. The council forecast a cut in spending on Christmas decorations and festivities this year to $2.07 million – $110,000 less than 2015.