Tuesday, 7 May 2024

Women’s Asian Cup

Sam GROTH (Nepean) (12:19): My question is to the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events. The government failed to make a bid to host the Women’s Asian Cup matches in 2026. Is it the case that Labor could not afford to make a bid?

Steve DIMOPOULOS (Oakleigh – Minister for Environment, Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events, Minister for Outdoor Recreation) (12:19): I have got to say that the member for Nepean has a bit of form in this. He asks these questions with absolutely no basis or no context. What he is effectively ignoring is the fact that every single jurisdiction in the country and many licence-holders want to come here, and we have such an impressive calendar. We have full venues. Frankly, if you want to talk about one event, as significant as it may be, you need to be in the context of every other event, and the fact is that our major events calendar, right from the Australian Open, 1.1 million –

Sam Groth: On a point of order, Speaker, on relevance, the question did not relate to the rest of the major events that may be here in this state. It related directly to the bid on the Asian Cup and the Matildas.

The SPEAKER: The minister was being relevant to the question and was clarifying it in relation to other events.

Steve DIMOPOULOS: I thank the member for raising a point of order, but context matters. He is literally picking one event and an impressive game as in world football – soccer – and it reminded me that I think the Matildas left Australia to play in the Olympics on behalf of this country. It qualified where? Right here in Melbourne. That is right: right here in Melbourne. It also reminds me of the fact that we are the only place in the country to host very, very soon, on 24 May, Tottenham Hotspur.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, Rulings from the Chair, including Speaker Maddigan, have found that the reply must address the question. We are more than halfway through a response, and the minister has not yet addressed the question. I would ask you to bring him back to the question and its relation to the particular bid.

The SPEAKER: The minister was being relevant to the question that was asked.

Steve DIMOPOULOS: The reality is there are only 365 days of the year, and on every single one of them there is an event on in this state – every single one of them. In fact the record visitor spend in Victoria of $37.8 billion indicates that. Every single region in this state has grown in visitor spend. Melbourne is still the number one preferred destination for overnight recreational visits – number one preferred destination in the whole of the country. People wish they had the F1 in their city or state. People wish they had the tennis open in their city or state. People wish they had the grand final until 2059. We have so much content, including soccer content, and we are very, very proud of the Matildas, whose home base is right here at La Trobe University. Of the whole country, the home base of the Matildas is right here at La Trobe University.

Sam GROTH (Nepean) (12:24): Given the government invested $42.29 million of taxpayer funds into that Home of the Matildas facility, why then did the minister betray the Matildas and their Victorian fans by failing to bid to host Women’s Asian Cup matches in 2026?

Steve DIMOPOULOS (Oakleigh – Minister for Environment, Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events, Minister for Outdoor Recreation) (12:24): I thank the member for his question. It is a pretty significant investment, and if you think about the investment – I am not sure if the member has been out there – this is not just for the Matildas. It is actually for the ParaMatildas and it is for the Young Matildas. There are about seven Matildas national squads that will actually have their home base there. In fact I have got to say to the member for Nepean, on Wednesday 22 May we have got A-League All Stars Women playing Arsenal Women. So Arsenal Women, EPL, are coming to play here, and, guess what, the A-League Women have some Matildas in them. We are providing opportunities not just through the Olympic qualifier, but we are also providing opportunities through this showcase match with the EPL and A-League All Stars Women. Fundamentally, this government has one of the proudest calendars in major events globally.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Would the member for Malvern like to leave the chamber?