Ministers statements: major events
Steve DIMOPOULOS (Oakleigh – Minister for Environment, Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events, Minister for Outdoor Recreation) (14:39): I rise update the house on the major events capital of Australia. There is so much happening in Melbourne: Melbourne Fashion Festival, Melbourne Food and Wine Festival and Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show, and of course today is day 1 of the four-day Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park. This year’s grand prix will have 136 food vendors, 29 bars and 400,000 collective hours of work over 12 weeks to put it on. We build the equivalent in grandstand capacity of half the MCG in 12 weeks. According to Crown Resorts, an extra 300 staff are being put on for the Formula One weekend. This includes chefs and waitstaff in restaurants and bars right through Crown Resorts, housekeeping staff, hotel staff and cleaners. All 1600 rooms through Crown hotels are completely full over the weekend. Last year’s grand prix generated $268 million of economic activity in Victoria, and about 50 million of the world’s eyes will be on Melbourne. This year’s grand prix is going to be our biggest yet. In fact tickets for Friday, Saturday and Sunday have been completely sold out. You will not find a ticket.
There is so much to see on track. There are two Australians on the grid, Daniel Ricciardo and Melbourne boy Oscar Piastri, who trained in Oakleigh. We also welcome back Formula Two and Three and the Supercars, but there is much more to see than just racing. Last night we had what was effectively a fashion festival on the grid, Glamour on the Grid. Guests will be entertained by a bunch of different Australian artists – Vanessa Amorosi, Jet and many more – because in Victoria we do not just put on a sporting event, we put on a festival. While we are busy organising a workforce of thousands for this weekend, those opposite cannot organise a workforce of 30 to decide who their leader will be. So start your engines, because we have got another major event coming in the Allan Labor government, like we do every other weekend.