Tuesday, 18 March 2025

 Steve DIMOPOULOS (Oakleigh – Minister for Environment, Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events, Minister for Outdoor Recreation) (14:30): It gives me pleasure to rise to update the house on this year’s Australian Grand Prix, the biggest ever at Albert Park. Over 465,000 people came through those turnstiles to see our very own Oscar Piastri and Jack Doohan. For our Sydney friends, that is literally like having six NRL grand finals over four days. For those opposite, that is like having 111 cruise ships – if you were travelling on the Quantum of the Seas, about 111.

I want to share with the house that the Times of India said the Formula One Australian Grand Prix is one of the biggest events on the grand prix calendar. The New York Times interviewed the CEO of F1 Stefano Domenicali. He said:

Melbourne is an incredible and vibrant city that is perfect … for our sport.

Hotel occupancy was well into 90 per cent across the whole four days.

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: The Leader of the Nationals and the Leader of the House can leave the chamber for half an hour.

Member for Gippsland South and Minister for Health withdrew from chamber.

Steve DIMOPOULOS: All flights to Melbourne Airport were full that week. Major hotel providers had to put on thousands and thousands of extra hours in shifts. Over 70 million people were watching this beautiful city and state and making their next travel plans.

I want to share with the house that under this Premier the major events calendar has skyrocketed. We have secured the NBA under this Premier for the first time ever in Australia. Under this Premier we have secured the NFL having regular season matches for the first time ever. We have locked in the Boxing Day test.

But there is another way. When the captain was cruising, the acting captain said, ‘The grand prix cannot continue in its current form.’ In other words, the Liberal Party wants to shrink the grand prix. What is next? Is it the Boxing Day test effectively becoming a backyard cricket match? That is what these people are talking about when it comes to the major events calendar.

Emma Kealy: On a point of order, Speaker, on relevance, a ministers statement is not a time to attack the opposition. Perhaps the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events would like to explain where he was for 2½ –

The SPEAKER: The minister to continue.

Steve DIMOPOULOS: While others prefer to spend their money in Queensland, we spend our money here in Victoria.