Thursday, 21 March 2024

Ministers statements: Kardinia Park

Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:06): I am absolutely delighted to update the house on our government’s commitment to world-class regional sporting infrastructure. I am particularly pleased to talk about it in that great regional city of Geelong. Kardinia Park is the best regional sports and major events centre in the country, and last week it just got that little bit better – with some help from Bendigo’s own Joel Selwood –

Members interjecting.

Jacinta ALLAN: Geelong love it when we remind them. I was delighted to join with my colleagues from across the Geelong region the member for Lara, the member for Bellarine, the member for Geelong and the member for South-West Coast to see the delivery –

Members interjecting.

Jacinta ALLAN: When you are a one-trick pony, you learn you have got to have a few more cards up your sleeve, right? And we do. We were celebrating the completion of stage 5 of the upgrade of Kardinia Park. To get to stage 5 you have got to have stages 1, 2, 3 and 4. Each and every stage over the past 20 years has been backed by successive Labor governments. This is Labor investment in the great regional centre of Geelong to make this venue the best venue in regional Australia – 40,000 seats. The new Geelong Sports Museum is supporting not just the great sporting culture you see around the Geelong community but also the opportunity to bring major events and other activities to that great facility. I want to thank the Geelong community and thank the Geelong members. We will continue to invest in that great regional city with investment in infrastructure, jobs and services.