Thursday, 28 August 2025

Bills

Australian Grands Prix Amendment Bill 2025

Second reading

Debate resumed.

Daniela DE MARTINO (Monbulk) (15:01): It is a pleasure to rise and endorse the Australian Grands Prix Amendment Bill 2025 as another positive step forward for this international sporting juggernaut, to quote the member for Melton, as well as Victoria’s tourism industry more broadly. This year we saw another record turnout for the Australian Grand Prix and an amazing boost to our local economy of approximately $300 million, reaffirming Melbourne as the sports capital of the world. This bill is designed to keep the good times rolling by safeguarding this event for years to come and ensuring the safety and accessibility of both attendees and locals is an utmost priority.

One of my favourite amendments in this bill is the move to have the corporation adequately fund Parks Victoria for the mammoth effort that they put in to preparing for the event and open the door to further increases as required, because this is the first increase to the payment since the act’s commencement 31 years ago in 1994, a time when milk was a dollar a litre, a kilogram of rump steak would set you back only $12 and a dozen eggs were – wait for it – $1.90. While we cannot go back to those prices today, we can certainly ensure the incredible work that Parks Victoria does at Albert Park Lake is appropriately compensated, and that is exactly what this amendment sets out to achieve.

The funding is vital, and it reflects the importance of the work they do not just at the grand prix but, may I say, across the state, and in particular in my beautiful district of Monbulk, where some jokingly refer to me as the ‘member for parks’ because most of the 450-odd square kilometres of my electorate is covered in national or state park. We have the beautiful Dandenong Ranges National Park, full of gorgeous gardens, including the Chelsea Australian Garden in Olinda, located within the Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden. We have Yellingbo Nature Conservation Reserve and Bunyip State Park, to name a few. It is such a beautiful place, and the work that Parks Victoria do there is to be commended. Nature has a way of creating a lot more work for them than they would like at times. Obviously, several trees have come down over the past few years; they have destroyed bridges. Wear and tear has done that too – the weather is not always helpful. But they are always working to maintain and upgrade them. Just recently we had another bridge open on the Sassafras Creek walking trail, which is wonderful for those who love that particular walk. It is stunning. So thank you, Parks Victoria, for the power of work that is done across the district.

The funding that this bill allows for is due to an increased race period, and it requires more work to get the job done. The tripling of the potential race period can allow so many more activations and so much more engagement and fun for locals and tourists alike, with this bill’s permission for non-motorsport events opening so many opportunities.

It might not be your cup of tea, the grand prix, and I have to say it really was not mine until I actually managed to attend it, Acting Speaker Marchant – and it is lovely to see you in the chair. I went, and my prior experience of the grand prix was when I lived in a very, very, very tiny flat in South Yarra. I could hear it from Darling Street, and I thought, ‘Gee, that’s noisy, and I wouldn’t want to get any closer to it than I already am.’ Well, I am happy to say that I stand corrected. Attending that event, the rush that is there – it has an incredible energy, and the way it is put on is beyond professional. It is a stunning event.

I know it is not for everyone – I do appreciate that. If you like things at a slower pace, then you can always jump on Puffing Billy and come out to my electorate, where I think it might be – and I really should have checked this beforehand – about 15 kilometres per hour, or maybe less, because you can race it in September. I tell you, it is a great thing when I am there to kick off the start of that race. It is a wonderful moment when I get to announce it, because I will never run it myself, so that is my one little moment, a sliver of reflected glory that I can enjoy, because running is definitely not for me. But Puffing Billy is stunning, and I have to say the work that has been done there and the way it has bounced back post COVID is a credit to those working there. The train of lights sold out three weeks worth of evening tickets in I think it was around about 4 hours. It was incredible. And the waitlist, the number of people who wanted a ticket, was about four or five times the number of people who managed to get one. That is testament to incredible tourism events happening across the hills. Acting Speaker Marchant, if you have a pooch – I am not sure if you do. Do you have a dog? But if you do, those who have a dog and would like to catch the train can put them once a month on the dog carriage. That sells out like hot cakes as well. This is about the Australian Grand Prix, but if you like a slower pace, I am just giving a plug to my fabulous local major tourism international drawcard Puffing Billy. It is a beautiful, beautiful, beautiful event to occur. And do not wait to have kids to go there or think you have to be a child yourself. Just go for the day. It is wonderful, so get out there, everyone, I say.

If you look at the Australian Grand Prix as a major tourism event, we really do these events better than anywhere else in the world, I have to say. Melbourne – what a city to be in or to be near. When those large events occur, the benefits for my electorate are tangible. Extra people come to the mountain. When people come to Melbourne, the Dandenong Ranges is the perfect day trip. I have local businesses who tell me they know when a major event is happening in Melbourne because more people are coming to the area – to Olinda, to Sassafras. They may go all the way out to Gembrook. They may go to Belgrave and catch Puffing Billy. And it is wonderful for our local economy. It really is amazing, the impact that an event in Melbourne has 50-odd kilometres east of the city in my area, so it is absolutely a boon and a benefit for us when Melbourne is humming with major events like the grand prix, and long may that continue, may I say.

I am a very proud local member of the district of Monbulk, if you had not worked that out already, and I have got to say I just had a tour last week by the owners of Burnham Beeches. For those who are not aware, Burnham Beeches is located adjacent to the Alfred Nicholas Memorial Garden. Alfred Nicholas made a fortune by discovering soluble aspirin, and having doing so he built an incredible mansion. This is a piece of Art Deco glory. It had the first working lift in a private residence I think in the Southern Hemisphere – absolutely in Australia but potentially in the Southern Hemisphere. This incredible mansion has basically gone to rack and ruin for about 30 years. There have been many attempts by a number of people to try and revive it, but I am really pleased to say that our government is actually backing the new owners to do so. It will become luxury accommodation, and it will solve an issue we have in our local tourism, which is a lack of large-scale accommodation up in the Dandenong Ranges. Most accommodation is B & Bs, cottages and Airbnbs, obviously in more recent times. So to see the plans they have for Burnham Beeches – I am telling you, mark 2027 in your calendar, because that is the time you need to go and check it out.

It will have great benefit too for locals because there will be day spas, there will be a providore and they will be growing their own produce, from which they will then make food to serve to others and to sell as well. I cannot believe how amazing it is going to be. I am really, really excited about that. Once again, I am really proud our government has chosen to back them with some assistance in funding to help them get this off the ground, because that will have a tangible effect on my local businesses. We have a lot of cottage industries up there. We have beautiful soap makers and local dressmakers as well. We have people making incredibly high quality foodstuffs and products, and they will reap the benefits of Burnham Beeches, as they do the benefits of people from around the world and interstate coming to see the Formula One Grand Prix.

Tourism is so significant for the district of Monbulk and our local economy; everything we do here in the City of Melbourne to draw more people in absolutely benefits the people in the district of Monbulk.

So I am really happy with the bill that we have before us, because it is just going to see this incredible event – as I stated at the beginning of my contribution, I was a little bit sceptical about it at the beginning, like the member for Melton, but I have been converted. I am pleased to say that over the years I have now become quite the fan. I do not sit there watching the documentary like my sister does – she is a huge Formula One fan – but I have to say I am quite a fan of Piastri, a homegrown international superstar, and I cannot wait for the next grand prix to roll around and rev its engines up. I will be doing my level best to get there for at least a day if possible, because it really is quite the event. It is not just the race itself, it is everything adjacent to it too. When I went, I have to say there was some incredible Italian local produce, which was on point. If you want to make people happy, feed them excellent, high-quality Italian food, which is what you can get if you go to the grand prix. That mozzarella di bufala, which was made in front of me, which I ate while still warm, I will never, ever forget. This is a fabulous bill. I commend it to the house. I am delighted the opposition is not opposing it.

Kim O’KEEFFE (Shepparton) (15:11): I am feeling a bit hungry now, actually, after that contribution. I have not had lunch yet – the Italian delights. I rise to make a contribution on the Australian Grands Prix Amendment Bill 2025. This is a bill for an act to amend the Australian Grand Prix Act 1994 to extend the maximum duration of the race from seven days to up to 21 days, to update the definition of the grand prix insignia, to increase the maximum payment that the Australian Grand Prix Corporation (AGPC) can make to the committee of management, to allow the Australian Grand Prix Corporation to host events approved by the minister which are not motorsport events or Formula One events, to provide for the appointment of acting members and an acting chairperson to the Australian Grand Prix Corporation and to provide for the declaration of public areas within the declared area. The act itself has been in operation for more than three decades, and the Australian Grand Prix has been one of the major highlights on the nation’s sporting calendar for Melbourne and for Victoria. We are proud to host this event in our state.

Whilst I have not attended the grand prix, Shepparton does have a very special connection to one of our sporting greats, the hugely successful superstar racing car driver Oscar Piastri. Oscar’s grandparents live in Shepparton and remain deeply involved in Oscar’s journey, which has been very well published. As we have seen in recent times, Oscar is having enormous success, which has been supported by local, national and international media. As you can imagine, the community have been getting behind Oscar, cheering him on from afar. I expect there will be a strong local presence at the grand prix next year, but definitely there will be fierce support for Oscar and his family locally and also across the nation. It will be very exciting. We are enormously proud of Oscar’s journey and his success on the world stage. It is also very exciting for Oscar and his family to have a grandstand named in his honour at next year’s grand prix, the 30th anniversary. Let us hope that he can bring it home in 2026.

Having significant events such as the grand prix is such a strong economic driver, as has been well shared in this chamber, filling motels and cafes and attracting visitors from worldwide. It is incredibly important to showcase opportunities to attract events on a world scale, including national and international opportunities. The grand prix is a critical economic driver for Victoria, and the 2025 race attracted over 465,000 attendees. It contributes over $300 million annually to the Victorian economy and supports more than 1145 full-time jobs across the hospitality, tourism, retail and related sectors.

Whilst we absolutely support the grand prix, we also need more opportunities in the regions to share economic opportunities. My electorate is known as the regional sporting capital of Australia, and we have had some incredible international and national sporting events. We have achieved some fantastic opportunities by putting our electorate on the world stage and in the spotlight.

Back in 2019, when I was the mayor, we had an international live stream of the international beach volleyball event, which was held on our lake. We do not have a beach. I am talking about international beach volleyball. What we did was truck in tonnes of sand and place it alongside our lake, so we created our own beach.

Paul Edbrooke interjected.

Kim O’KEEFFE: Hundreds of tonnes. I do not know how many tonnes, member for Frankston, but hundreds of tonnes. I am not sure how many we took, but it was a lot. There were a lot of trucks trucking in sand so we could create our own beach, creating an opportunity to host an international event – that being, as I said, international beach volleyball. This opportunity meant that in between games I had the opportunity to do an international live stream and to put the call out about the wonderful land and many opportunities in my region, and we had a call the following Monday that actually led to a significant investment in the region. You never know what you can attract when you shine a bright light on your region and, as we are talking about today, on our state when it comes to the grand prix. We need to put ourselves out there and to show our capabilities and to create opportunities.

What we are truly lacking in my electorate is investment into our sporting facilities to continue to attract sporting events, which we do depend on in our region, and we must have fit-for-purpose facilities. The member for Mildura also actually raised this important fact that regional communities can create incredible opportunities. But as I have said, we have to have fit-for-purpose facilities, in particular sporting facilities. We look at the lost opportunity from the cancellation of the regional Commonwealth Games, which, exactly like the grand prix, would have created such a huge economic boost and also would have put us on the world stage. The promise of investment, legacy infrastructure – it has been a huge let-down during these challenging times for local businesses, including motels and hospitality. As I said, it was a huge let-down to my community and a lost opportunity.

As many have raised in the chamber today, there are also some concerns regarding some of the increase in costs, and of course we have to be diligent in managing that and not imposing further increasing costs on the state, particularly if we are increasing other events and having those opportunities. As a state we need well-managed and financially sustainable major events to ensure that the economic benefits of events such as the grand prix can continue well into the future. On this side of the house we have advocated for the Australian Grand Prix Corporation to increase profitability and to reduce government contribution. We encourage events to go ahead, but we also need to reduce the burden on the budget. We want to make sure that we see proper oversight with Victorians’ taxpayer money. Largely the reason from the government for extending the event has been for safety reasons, but the government have not indicated what the extents of those reasons are.

The member for Albert Park also raised the concerns around community safety in her contribution and the need for ongoing discussions, something that she said has been raised also by her constituents. There have been some concerns about extending the race period from seven days up to 21 days from some of the local community and more broadly, but also the extended closure. Many are concerned that there was only a two-week consultation period. We acknowledge the feedback from key stakeholders, including the City of Port Phillip, who raised valid concerns about the short consultation timeframe and community engagement. With such a short consultation period, it has created a situation where some community members and sporting clubs and groups may not have had sufficient opportunity or time to organise putting in a submission in time, but it has also created a perception within the community that a decision had already been determined.

The City of Port Phillip also argued that the proposed extension of the race period from seven days up to 21 days presents considerable challenges for local sporting clubs, particularly rowing and sailing clubs, that depend on uninterrupted access to the lake and do not have capacity to rehome to a nearby or close location, but the extended closure of Albert Park Reserve will also significantly restrict access for recreation. The lack of consultation and discussions with the impacted community is very frustrating, and of course we expect a backlash will occur if we do not do that process properly. We do want to see this amazing event continue. But I think it is also important that the voices of communities are heard and understood, and hopefully they can work through some of those challenges – some, obviously, not as easily as others. Importantly, the bill does ensure that public access to Albert Park, used by over 7 million people annually, can be maintained via designated access zones and tenant usage during this extended period. The bill established a mechanism to enable the Australian Grand Prix Corporation to allow access to Albert Park during the race period, ensuring the public continues to have as much access to the park as possible for as long as it is safe to do so.

Another amendment this bill makes is the bill provides for the AGPC to host non-motorsport events at any time, subject to approval by the minister. In doing so, the AGPC must submit an application to host such events six months in advance of the proposed event and contain essential information and security information. Only the minister will have regard to the financial sustainability of event as well as operational factors and any consultation undertaken.

As the City of Port Phillip raised, they are concerned with this amendment, and without clarity on the nature and scale of these events the potential in regard to competition, they said, exists for local venues and events, as well as community impacts on an additional scale.

Clause 25 of the bill seeks to amend section 41(1) of the Australian Grands Prix Act to substitute the maximum amount of the payment that the AGPC may make to the committee of management in respect of each race period, in this case Parks Victoria. This amount would be the greater of $200,000 or the prescribed amount, which is currently $100,000. This increased contribution by the AGPC to Parks Victoria does not guarantee that the funds will be used for site remediation. As administered under the act, the Governor in Council can make decisions regarding acting appointments to the AGPC.

Just going back, with the minute I have got to spare, in regard to community consultation, the Victorian government is seeking feedback on the proposed changes, emphasising the importance of community input, and we need to see that happen, as I have alluded to. Finally, I would like to wish Oscar great success at the grand prix, and we cannot wait to have another exciting grand prix in the state of Victoria.

Dylan WIGHT (Tarneit) (15:21): It gives me great pleasure to rise this afternoon to make a contribution on the Australian Grands Prix Amendment Bill 2025. The Formula One Australian Grand Prix is more than just a sporting contest. It is one of the defining fixtures of Melbourne’s identity as the entertainment capital. Year after year Albert Park becomes a global motorsports hub, and the world’s fastest machines and finest drivers converge there, as do many Formula One fans from Melbourne, Australia and indeed right around the world.

I have listened to lots of contributions prior to mine, and whilst it may be true, member for Sandringham, that this event was brought to Melbourne by a former Liberal Premier, it has been made the event that it is today by Labor governments, both Bracks and Brumby and Andrews and Allan. When we are talking about the organisation and governments, it may be true that it was brought here by a former Liberal Premier, but it has been made the event that it is today by Labor governments, and we should acknowledge the current minister, Minister Dimopoulos, and the fantastic work that he and his department have done to make this event into what it is today. For locals in Melbourne and Australian Formula One fans, it is a festival atmosphere when we go down there, and it is a real celebration of not just Australian motorsport and Formula One but of major events in this state and how fantastic we are as the state of Victoria – not just the government but hospitality, tourism and everybody that puts in to make these events what they are.

As I said, Victoria is the major events capital most certainly of Australia – and I will go into some of the major events that we have here and what makes Victoria the major events capital of Australia – but in my view it is the major events capital of the world, particularly for sporting major events, and with that comes an enormous economic benefit. In 2025 this event increased Victoria’s gross state product by $323.9 million, which is gobsmacking. To think that a major event can contribute that to gross state product is mind-boggling, but it is no surprise. I must admit I have not traditionally been a motorsports fan – I have not traditionally been a fan of Formula One – but I, like many after watching Drive to Survive, have been converted.

I am now a McLaren fan, as I think many Australians are, with Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris. I think in recent years in particular the growth of this event has been absolutely astronomical, and with that, the benefit that it has for this state in respect to economic revenue has been absolutely enormous. It also generated over 1600 full-time equivalent jobs and generated an estimated $3.08 in direct economic impact to Victoria for every dollar invested by the Victorian government. That is a good investment by any stretch, by any measure. A 300 per cent return on investment is a good investment by any measure. It also attracted 465,000 people down to Albert Park in March, which is a record attendance for the event. Hotel occupancy in Melbourne was 93 per cent on the Friday, 94 per cent on the Saturday and 90 per cent on the Sunday, and broadcast viewership was approximately 78.5 million people across the weekend. That means that people across Australia and indeed across the world are seeing what Melbourne has to showcase, and then the flow-on benefit for tourism that that has is astronomical as well.

As I said, Victoria is the major events capital of the world. A recent independent study commissioned by Visit Victoria found that our major events calendar contributed $3.3 billion in value to the Victorian economy, up from $2.5 billion in 2019. The Australian Grand Prix plays an enormous role in that. Tennis fans would probably disagree and have an argument here, and I do not want to start that argument, but I would say that this is probably the flagship major sporting event on our calendar.

Members interjecting.

Dylan WIGHT: I am getting to it. We have the Australian Open, we have the Australian Grand Prix and we have the Victorian Spring Racing Carnival, which will kick off –

Members interjecting.

Dylan WIGHT: Hang on. I have not finished. The Spring Racing Carnival, which I can tell you I will be attending –

Steve McGhie interjected.

Dylan WIGHT: I will have some tips for you, member for Melton. Watch this space. Actually, my filly just did a piece of work this morning, an improving piece of work, and may feature in a race during spring, so I will give you that one. The Spring Racing Carnival will be kicking off – and we are seeing the really good horses come out in the Memsie this weekend, Mr Brightside and Another Wil – and of course there is the AFL Grand Final, which we will see in five weeks time, which is personally my favourite. All of these major events together provide such an economic benefit to Victorians. But it is not just the economic benefit; it is part of the fabric of the Victorian community to be able to have access to these absolutely amazing events. The Boxing Day test, the Australian Open, the grand prix, the Spring Racing Carnival, the grand final – you name it, Victorians can attend.

But we are not stopping there. Under the Allan Labor government our major events pipeline just keeps getting better and better. We have signed a multiyear deal for Melbourne to host an NFL regular season game.

Members interjecting.

Brad Rowswell: On a point of order, Acting Speaker, I believe the member for Tarneit, who is making a worthy contribution, deserves the respect of the chamber and to be heard in silence. I would encourage you to tell members to give the member for Tarneit the respect he is due.

The ACTING SPEAKER (Alison Marchant): It is not a point of order.

Dylan WIGHT: But we are not stopping there. There is a regular season NFL game from 2026; a two-year deal to host the Australian Open golf; the NBA x NBL series, where we will see the New Orleans Pelicans here in October; and the Rugby World Cup of course in 2027. There is the Westwood–Kawakubo exhibition. I do not know what that is, but we have got that coming to NGV here in Melbourne. Victoria and Melbourne are the major events capital of not just Australia but the world. Our calendar of sporting events is unrivalled and unparalleled, and the Australian Grand Prix is nothing different, made into what it is by Labor governments.

Cindy McLEISH (Eildon) (15:31): I am actually going to do something a little different. I am going to stick to the grand prix and the legislation that is before us. Listening to many contributions, I know that is a little bit different today. First of all, I am going to talk a little bit about some of the background and the history around the grand prix and then move to the changes and why some of these changes need to be introduced.

As we have heard from many, the grand prix is a major event in Victoria, and it is an enormous economic contributor. Whether it be at hotels, restaurants or cafes, the place is really buzzing at that time, and we all know that – we can see it. There is a lot of background work in setting up – all of the marquees need seating, lighting and flooring. There are so many jobs associated with the grand prix itself, running the event and the organisation – we have got 1149 full-time equivalent jobs. The contribution to the Victorian economy in 2023 was $268 million, with a significant direct expenditure as well. Now, I do know, and I think we all know, that the taxpayer has contributed quite extensively to the grand prix and to the success of the grand prix, but we equally know it is one of the biggest gigs in town because it has so much direct and indirect benefit to the Victorian economy, and it is important that it is supported.

I guess former Premier Kennett knew and understood that the sorts of benefits and the opportunities it would bring and unlock for Victoria would be extensive, which is why he managed to steal it from South Australia. A friend of mine who was a grid girl at the Adelaide grand prix and who may or may not have became a minister of the Crown under the Marshall government said that being a grid girl was the biggest gig in town. It opened so many doors and it was a wonderful –

Mathew Hilakari: Stick around long enough and you learn something, don’t you?

Cindy McLEISH: Do not demean women.

A member: No-one is demeaning women.

Cindy McLEISH: You were. You absolutely were.

She said it was a wonderful event and really made such a difference to Adelaide, which is why we wanted it and we need to keep it in Victoria. Keeping it in Victoria is really important because there are others out there who are ready to nab it. We know that New South Wales had a bid and were unsuccessful, but equally other places around the world are very keen to host Formula One events. We know the one in the Netherlands is coming up very shortly. The Netherlands’ Max Verstappen is the champion, and the Netherlands are hosting their last one. Within Spain, the Barcelona grand prix is moving to Madrid. France – they have had so many champions, and they now do not have a grand prix. So it is so important that everybody in this chamber – and I know that there are a number of members from the Greens who do not support the grand prix – supports the grand prix now and into the future.

We do not want to give them a blank cheque, but we do need to make sure that the conditions are there to make sure that we keep it in Victoria and it is alongside some of the other great major events we have heard about – the Australian Open, the AFL Grand Final, the Spring Racing Carnival and Boxing Day. I may just declare that I have also fairly recently become a McLaren fan after going to one of the pre-grand prix events.

The bill that we have before us is making a number of changes. Most of the changes are around the extension of the race period from seven to 21 days, which is this exclusive access period. It is also about the grand prix corporation being able to host non-motorsport events – I will come back to those in a moment – and there is an increase in payment to Parks Victoria.

I am going to start with the broadening of non-motorsport events. This is to capitalise on the brand, because we know the brand of Formula One has great, great strength – great market power – and the government brokers all get out and really need to minimise their investment into the future and minimise their spend. One of the ideas about capitalising on the brand is allowing the grand prix corporation to be involved in non-motorsport events. This may be something such as a Formula One exhibition, and at the moment these exhibitions are going around the world. It may be that they can come to Melbourne, and the Australian Grand Prix Corporation is the most appropriate body to run those and get involved with that. I think it is not a bad idea at all that there may be some things at Albert Park. But what we did clarify at the bill briefing is they are not just going to get into hosting an athletics event at Albert Park because that is in and around the precinct. It will be related to grand prix Formula One because they have that brand and they can absolutely maximise the leverage. They can leverage off that really, really well.

Extending the race period from seven to 21 days is interesting in itself. Obviously there is prior approval here. It will be published in the Government Gazette. What we are finding, or what the grand prix corporation are finding, is that it is becoming increasingly difficult for public safety. We have an area that is already an exclusion zone, but people still go in it. Joggers – I do not know whether they do it deliberately or not. They think, ‘Oh, yes, I can still get through here,’ and they go into an area that they are not supposed to be going into. That is quite dangerous, and they have had a number of near misses, but equally, extending the race period and that exclusion zone does not mean that this is going to get any easier. It is going to be a longer period that they have to be keeping their eye out on what is going on and where people are breaching the boundaries and getting into areas that they should not. One of the key areas here is that this is being proposed to create a safer and more secure environment for all of those users. We know that for the grand prix and the short number of days that it runs there are set-up periods either side as well. This takes into account that period where there is the erection and pulling down of stands and things like that, for which we might need that safer period at that time.

Most of the sporting clubs and tenants will actually be able to continue to access the facilities there. The additional 14 days will mean for that period they will have tailored arrangements. I hope that does happen, because I know there is a lot of sport down and around the Albert Park precinct. I know that they have a hockey club down there, and I have played at that ground many, many times. I see also some of the disruptions that occur, and we need to minimise that for park users. In most instances the tenants are not going to be impacted by the seven to 21 days – that additional 14 days when that building and dismantling are taking place. As I said, it is a good thing that they are not going to be disrupted terribly.

There is a payment to Parks Victoria that is made already. This payment is made for the relocation of tenants, and you have got to maintain and upkeep the ovals, because we have, during that period of the grand prix, people trampling all over ovals and the parks, and that is certainly detrimental to the playing surfaces.

Already, as I said, there is a payment to Parks Victoria, but they are increasing that payment, probably in goodwill because of those seven to 14 days.

The attendance at the grand prix has increased significantly, from an estimated just under 325,000 fans in 2019 to almost 466,000 in 2025. So we have got a lot of foot traffic in and around that area. I think whether it is on the golf course or whether it is in the parks and ovals that are there, where you see the erection of stands, the marquees, the merchandise everywhere, the toilet blocks, all of those additional things that get set up really do make an impact on the surface. I think that the government may even probably have been able to go a little bit further, but I know that they have spent a lot of money to make sure that the pit lane area and other facilities are going to be upgraded further. The opposition is not opposing this bill. Good luck to the grand prix going forward.

Josh BULL (Sunbury) (15:41): I am pleased to have the opportunity this afternoon to make a contribution on this bill and to follow on from the comments that have been made on the grand prix (GP) and the significant contribution that it makes to the Victorian economy, the major events calendar and of course setting our state up for opportunities going forward. I think the tone of the debate throughout the course of this afternoon has been a reasonable one, and the acknowledgement of the significant economic contribution – the jobs that are created and the work that goes into making the grand prix the event that it is – is something that is acknowledged across the house and is something that we need to make sure that we continue to update, review and work very closely on with the organisation, which does a very important job in running such a massive event.

Just a couple of comments in terms of the broader contribution of the major events calendar: I know that the member for Tarneit canvassed in great detail the significantly long list of events that we are very proud to host right here in this state, whether it be the grand prix, which we are dealing with this afternoon, the Spring Racing Carnival, highlighted by the Melbourne Cup, the Australian Open, the AFL Grand Final or so many others. What we know of course is that it is not just the event but the contribution from the point of view of tourism, hospitality and the opportunity for people to come to our great state and enjoy a number of different experiences whilst they are here. What we know is that it is not just the event itself but it is all of the food and dining and visiting local attractions that tourists get to enjoy when they come to this great state.

What we need to do, and the purpose of this bill goes to this, is make sure that we are reviewing and updating provisions for the hosting of the event. The expansion from seven to 21 days for all of the matters that have been canvassed really well by members this afternoon in the house go to – and the previous member I think articulated this quite well – the significance of the event. We know that Albert Park is a fairly large place, and if you have had the opportunity, as many others have had, to go and see the grand prix, the set-up of the event is a massive feat in itself. Looking at the way the teams work, it is obviously highly competitive. There is a great deal of planning, thought and indeed money that goes into running an event such as the GP, and the work that is done around that is extraordinary. Of course that enables the opportunity, as other members have mentioned, for both the food and dining elements of our state to be on display. It is a really proud opportunity for our state to be able to host what is such a significant and important event.

Making sure that we are working with those that put in lots of time, lots of energy and a huge amount of effort to host an event such as this is really important. So in the context of debate this afternoon, and as I mentioned earlier, I think it has been a fairly respectful one and mostly quite accurate. I take this opportunity to thank every single person that plays a role in bringing not just the GP but all of our major events to Victoria. Thank you to each and every one of those people, whether you are someone that is at the gate or on food and beverage, taking an opportunity to play your role. One of the things that I notice at all of our major events and sports right across the state is just how proud people are to be able to play their part. It could be a fairly minor role, it could be some casual work, but the jobs that are generated from the events – not just in the city but right across the state – are I think really important. It goes to economic activity, it goes to new skills and it goes to making sure that we are supporting people to enjoy a phenomenal range of different experiences. I think it is something that we should be really proud of.

So in the context of this bill, I want to take the opportunity to thank everyone in my community that might play a role in such events. To all of those people that get to go and experience them, whether it is the GP or many of the others that I have mentioned earlier, it is something that is really important to our state. What I am really pleased to be able to say is that whether it is through the budget process or a whole range of other measures available to the government, we have been able to support these events going forward.

The previous speakers have rattled off some of the key statistics that go to the events themselves, and I will do the same quite briefly. The 2025 grand prix increased Victoria’s gross state product by $323.9 million, generating – I mentioned employment – 1631 full-time equivalent jobs and an estimated $3.08 in direct economic impact for every dollar invested. That is better than three to one, which is extraordinary. The record attendance figure, which I am sure the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events is really proud of and can probably rattle off in his sleep, is 465,000 people. Hotel occupancy in Melbourne: Friday night, 93 per cent; Saturday, 94 per cent; and Sunday, 90 per cent. It is the first time we have had the F1 Melbourne Fan Festival being free and family friendly at Melbourne Park, and the importance of that really does sell itself. Not everyone can afford to get there, and I think wherever we can add fringe events and other opportunities that are free for families and are family friendly for little ones is really important because it is an opportunity for people to go and have some fun with their family and their friends and to enjoy and learn and share what is a really great opportunity as part of the major events calendar.

As has been really well canvassed by other members – and I will not, in the couple of minutes that I have got remaining, take the opportunity to go through all of the mechanics of what this will do – the key point is that working closely with event organisers as a government, as a team, through the minister’s office and via the department is really important. Sitting down and going through, as per the usual process, things that worked really well and things that need to be improved is something that we remain committed to doing. I mentioned some of those key statistics earlier: the 460,000-plus people, the one-to-three ratio in terms of economic output – member for Frankston, you would be very pleased about that as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer.

Making sure that those contributions and that support is provided is something that I know everybody works really hard on.

In summary, providing for the very best grand prix is what this is all about, making sure that we continue to support the work that is done and having a process of consistent and constant review and providing for what will be a terrific event for many years to come. Making sure that we are focused on that experience is really, really important. The bill provides those measures that go to better event management, set-up and planning, and an opportunity to provide for that is something that the government remains focused on. It is a really exciting calendar. It is in a growing state with growing jobs and a growing population. All of those things enable you to be better and stronger when it comes to event management and when it comes to getting people to our great state to enjoy every single thing that Victoria has to offer. With those comments, I proudly commend the bill to the house.

Peter WALSH (Murray Plains) (15:51): I rise to make a contribution on the Australian Grands Prix Amendment Bill 2025. Events like the grand prix, events like the Australian Open, events like the Spring Racing Carnival and events like the AFL Grand Final transition governments and transition sides of politics who are in government. I think that has been demonstrated by all the speakers who have been so supportive of it. But I think it is important to look at a bit of the history of some of those events. If you think about the Australian Open and the shift of the Australian Open tennis from Kooyong to where it is now at Melbourne Park, that was actually made possible years ago by then Nationals leader Peter Ross-Edwards. The Nationals and the Liberals were not in coalition in the Cain government, and the Nationals actually supported Labor to make that happen. Yes, it is named after John Cain, but I could equally acknowledge Peter Ross-Edwards as the Nationals leader who was brave enough to make sure that it came to Melbourne Park. I can understand why the Liberals probably did not want it to leave Kooyong, because they had the member for Kooyong at that particular time –

Mathew Hilakari: Those were the days!

Peter WALSH: Those were the days. But it transitions sides of politics, because we know these major events put us on the world stage with the TV coverage. As much as it is also about the people that come here and the hospitality and the income that is generated and the hotel bookings that are generated here in Victoria, it is also about promoting Australia on the world stage, and those events do that. The Australian Open does that, the spring carnival does that and the Melbourne Cup does that – fantastic events that everyone here would support. Well, perhaps some of those that sit directly to my left may not be as supportive as we are. I think the only challenge we all have with the Spring Racing Carnival is to get some winners. It is always a much better carnival if you can actually pick a couple of winners, so if the government could introduce legislation where every MP was guaranteed a winner or two, we might actually find that a bit more fun. But again, both sides of politics support the Spring Racing Carnival and the racing industry here in Victoria and the economic activity and the jobs it creates over that time.

A member: What about the Boort cup?

Peter WALSH: The Boort Pacing Cup? I helped sponsor that. That is a great event. The AFL Grand Final – again, both sides of politics. We all have our football teams. We all know who we would like to win the grand final. I can tell all the other teams you are going to miss out this year because Geelong will win it. I do not want to put the kiss of death on them, but I am hopeful Geelong will go very well in the grand final. But again, what was once a sport that was effectively Victorian is now national, and it has international recognition and a lot of TV coverage as well.

When we come to the grand prix, which is what this legislation is about and which is part of that suite of major events here in Victoria that does put us on the world stage, we need a vote of thanks to Jeffrey Kennett, to Ron Walker and to Pat McNamara, who actually made all that happen. I know those on the other side want to own the grand prix now and are very proud of it – and the government of the day does that – but if you think back to the early 1990s, the grand prix was in Adelaide, and Adelaide saw that as the jewel in their event crown. And one Premier, Jeffrey Gibb Kennett, with the support of Ron Walker, actually won the grand prix from Adelaide, for Victoria.

While I mention Pat McNamara, Pat was the police minister at the time. The Labor Party opposed the grand prix going to Albert Park. Let us call a spade a spade. There were demonstrations. The member for Albert Park at the time was John Thwaites, who went on to be Deputy Premier of the state. But there were demonstrations. There were people chaining themselves to trees because there were a number of trees that needed to be taken out to make the track safe. People were chaining themselves to trees. People were demonstrating everywhere. The police had to be called in to allow the workers to do the work. So yes, it is great that the Labor Party and current Labor government is so supportive of the grand prix. But at that particular time they literally violently opposed it with the demonstrations that happened there, and there was a huge issue for Victoria Police and the workers with what all the demonstrators did chaining themselves to trees and what they did putting obstacles in the way of the machinery. We do owe a vote of thanks to the vision of Jeff Kennett and Ron Walker in actually making sure we brought that here, with the support of his government and the people that helped him do that, because it is a major event, as everyone has said in heated agreement around here.

Some people question how much taxpayer money has to go into it, but I would say that we do need it here. We do not want another capital city of Australia to pinch it off us. We need to be on the world stage with that particular event and have Melbourne promoted all the time.

From the point of view of the actual mechanics of the bill, as previous speakers, including the shadow minister, said, we will not be opposing this legislation. An issue that I would just like to raise and issue a caution on would be, I suppose, that in the bill the declarations and variations of access are now done via the Government Gazette and a website only. We are getting to the point now where public knowledge of decisions that are made is getting harder to find. Everyone says something is on a website. Something being on a website does not necessarily mean you can always find it that easily. With Google search you can probably find some of it, but just saying it is on the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action website, the Parks Victoria website or someone else’s website does not mean you can just go in there with a couple of clicks and find it. You have actually got to have a detailed knowledge of the path through to where you can get it. I would have thought it would be better if there was a more formal way. And not many people actually read the Government Gazette every week; it is not something that is front of mind and sitting on the kitchen bench for people to go and read to see that there has been a change to a declaration or a variation to Albert Park for the grand prix or for an event that is going to be held there, and there is the capacity now for events other than the grand prix to be held there with the minister’s consent.

The idea of actually having some signs put up so that people know in two weeks time or whatever the time may be there will be some restrictions put in place I think would be a sensible thing for the government to consider, rather than just saying it is going to be on a website. There are a lot of Melburnians and Victorians as well that use that wider Albert Park precinct for sporting events or social events on the lake – for running, jogging and riding their pushbikes and all the things that they do. I think the government could give some consideration to how there may be some signage put up saying, ‘In two weeks time or three weeks time’ – or whatever a suitable time is – ‘there will actually be some restrictions to your access here. Make some plans accordingly so that you won’t turn up here one day thinking you’re going to play golf or thinking you’re going to go out on the lake and all of a sudden it’s shut.’ The government could take on notice that there might be a better way of actually giving some notice and some public display of what is going to happen and also how stakeholders are going to be engaged in the future in those decisions, particularly for events that are outside the 21 days of the grand prix. There are quite a few stakeholders that use the whole Albert Park precinct. I suppose that is a key issue that I would see from going through the legislation.

The other one just to touch on is being able to host events other than the grand prix there. We have gone through the notification, but at the moment it effectively says that it is with the consent of the minister. I would hope the minister has some form of consultation process, again, with all the other stakeholders and there is some oversight to that. Albert Park is a magnificent precinct. It needs to be available to the public, but we also need to use it for key events. It would be great if a little bit more money could be made so the taxpayer does not have to subsidise the grand prix quite so much, but again there just needs to be some oversight of that and making sure people know what is going on.

But I suppose we wish this bill a speedy passage, because as I said when I started, the grand prix is one of our major events here in Victoria – along with the Spring Racing Carnival, the Australian Open and the AFL Grand Final – that we need to make sure we keep both for the economic benefit generated here in Victoria but equally importantly for the TV coverage we get worldwide. As you travel overseas, people know Melbourne for those events, and I think that gives us a major advantage over the other capital cities of Australia. Let us hope that we keep that advantage into the future, because Melbourne is just so much better than Sydney.

Bronwyn HALFPENNY (Thomastown) (16:01): I would also like to make a contribution to the Australian Grands Prix Amendment Bill 2025 speaking in favour of this legislation and the changes that it makes. At this stage of the debate there is not a lot that has been left unsaid, but I would really like to say at the start how proud I am to be living in Victoria, particularly at the moment. There are so many things to do; there are so many festivals, events and celebrations and a really strong and dynamic sports calendar as well. When I look at the grand prix – and I know that the previous speaker and other opposition speakers have constantly reminded us that this was an initiative of the Kennett Liberal government – I see the Victorian program as a whole: it is all about diversity, having lots of different things for everybody and the great economic benefits that come out of these events attracting people from all over not just Victoria or Australia but the globe to come and see what we have got to offer here in Victoria.

I think about things like the MCG; I know lots of residents of the Thomastown electorate come in for the cricket at the MCG; they come in for the AFL – there is the AAMI stadium; there is the tennis centre. Of course all of these big major event places where you can hold great events have really been as a result of the great foresight and future planning and investment of successive Labor governments who have had the vision to look at these investments as long-term benefits to the state. We see how important they are and how much they contribute back to the state, so when we hear all these arguments about spending money and this and that, the whole point is that government should be investing in the state, building the infrastructure, because this increases productivity and also provides benefits in businesses or organisations being able to use the facilities. They do not come to Victoria because they just think this is the right place to be; they come because we have the facilities that they can use and that benefit whatever the event is that they are wanting to hold in Victoria.

In terms of the grand prix legislation that we are looking at and the changes that we are making, there are a couple that people have been speaking for and against; one of the changes is to increase the length of time that the grand prix corporation can use or be a tenant of Albert Park from seven days to 21 days. I know there have been people complaining about the use of public space, but this happens everywhere – we have got the nursery association doing a fantastic exhibition in Queen’s Hall this week. The international flower show is actually in the exhibition gardens – again, a public space. But that temporary use of public spaces is exactly what they are there for, not just for a particular group that live in an area to use it as their backyard but for all of us to enjoy through visiting and coming to events and celebrating all the great things that Victoria has to offer. Again, there are also jobs in these things. I know that there are a number of residents that work in hospitality and events management, doing the set-up at the grand prix and also involved in working for those companies in hospitality to provide the food and drink that those that are attending the grand prix enjoy. So there are a lot of benefits. We need to update the legislation around the grand prix to make sure it still continues to be a great success and builds on into the future, and this is exactly what this legislation does.

Nick STAIKOS (Bentleigh – Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Local Government) (16:05): I move:

That the debate be now adjourned.

Motion agreed to and debate adjourned.

Ordered that debate be adjourned until later this day.