Tuesday, 28 May 2024

 Steve DIMOPOULOS (Oakleigh – Minister for Environment, Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events, Minister for Outdoor Recreation) (14:06): I rise to update the house on how Victoria continues to be the major events capital of Australia. It has been a big week for our state with Global Football Week and the Australian Tourism Exchange taking over the city, with tens of thousands of interstate and international visitors filling our streets and our hotels. The next few weeks are going to be jam-packed. NRL State of Origin returns to the MCG; it has not been here since 2018. The Rising festival will again transform Melbourne into a creative playground. Ballin’24 will take over John Cain Arena, with our Olympic basketballers on full display. Jerry Seinfeld will entertain thousands at Rod Laver Arena. White Night will light up Ballarat, which I know the members for Eureka, Wendouree and Ripon are looking forward to, and the landmark Pharaoh exhibition, which has never left the British Museum, will be here opening at the NGV soon.

This does not happen by accident. Think of the Melbourne and Olympic parks precinct, the jewel in the crown of our events calendar. On the back of more than a billion dollars invested across the precinct in recent years, it generated more than $740 million in economic activity in one year alone. Last year alone the precinct welcomed over 3 million visitors, who together contributed 1.2 million bed nights in hotels in Victoria. You do not have to look far to see another terrific example of the benefits of government’s investment in major events. Our $225 million investment in Marvel Stadium secured the grand final in Melbourne till 2059. We have also locked up the Australian Open until 2046 and the F1 grand prix till 2037. Much to the dismay of those opposite, who are from Victoria but are not for Victoria, we are the sporting and major events capital of the country. We are today, we will be tomorrow and, under this government, we will continue to be.