Thursday, 30 October 2025

 Anthony CARBINES (Ivanhoe – Minister for Police, Minister for Community Safety, Minister for Victims, Minister for Racing) (10:01): It is the $10 million Melbourne Cup running next Tuesday, the cup carnival, which last year drew more than $502 million in gross economic impact and employed 14,000 people in the carnival week alone across industries from retail to accommodation and hospitality. It goes to the broader story around Victoria, where $4.7 billion is added to the economy every year thanks to racing – big clubs and small clubs. I was at the Manangatang Cup a few weeks back with 2500 people in a town of only a few hundred. Again, whether it is small racing or big racing, the government has your back. There are 34,000 full-time equivalent jobs in racing across the state, and we know that it is a big driver of jobs in regional Victoria. Speaker, you would be well aware that the Bendigo Cup was yesterday – a very successful event, with a huge crowd there to see Harry Coffey ride home the winner in the Bendigo Cup.

Can I say also we have contributed some $5 million at Moonee Valley. I was there for the Cox Plate with the honourable member for Bundoora and many others to see the transformation in the housing context there at the valley but also to see the last Cox Plate and the $5 million contribution from our government around the housing changes that we are going to see with the significant investment in the Moonee Valley redevelopment. Back at headquarters, there is a $1.8 million contribution from the Major Racing Events Fund to see DJ Fisher take to the stage on Champions Stakes Day.