Thursday, 10 September 2026

 Anthony CARBINES (Ivanhoe – Leader of the House, Minister for Artificial Intelligence and the Digital Economy, Minister for Major Events, Minister for Medical Research, Minister for Racing, Minister for Economic Development) (14:24): NFL game week is go here in Melbourne, with some 1400 Victorians on Sunday setting a new cheerleading world record at Fed Square. I was pleased to be among those world record holders. And starting today we have the NFL kick-off festival at Melbourne Park, showcasing fantastic Aussie artists, and the free Melbourne End Zone at Fed Square, with live NFL games on the big screen for all families to get down there and check out. We have already showcased regional icons like the Phillip Island penguins, we have had our golf courses and our cuisine showcased to millions of NFL fans right across the United States. That is exactly what this partnership is all about. It is about bringing visitors who stay longer, travel further and spend more, not just exploring Melbourne but rushing past our amazing city to touch down in our wonderful regions. The week culminates tomorrow in the blockbuster, with the LA Rams and the San Francisco 49ers at the MCG. It is an extraordinary opportunity to showcase Melbourne and Victoria to hundreds of millions of people around the world.

This side of the house is proud to support Melbourne, the first city in the world to host an NFL regular fixtured game, a Formula One grand prix and a tennis grand slam – only here in Melbourne. $300 million is expected to flow through local businesses as fans fill the city across tomorrow. September is on track to be a record for accommodation stays in Melbourne and across Victoria with a record NFL Melbourne game. It keeps the investment coming here in Victoria, the Carroll Labor government’s investment in our major events calendar – 17,000 jobs a year, 8 million visitors a year to Victoria and $3.6 billion in expenditure and economic activity because of our major events program. But it is always under threat from a wacky One Nation–Liberal coalition that does not support major events in this state.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, the minister is clearly using a ministers statement inappropriately to attack the opposition.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: The minister, without attacking the opposition.

Anthony CARBINES: It is difficult to tip a winner between the Rams and the 49ers, but the winner is Victoria.

The SPEAKER: Question time has ended. I acknowledge in the gallery the Honourable Marsha Thomson, a former minister.