Albert Park advisory committee
Katherine COPSEY (Southern Metropolitan) (12:10): (1374) My question is to the Minister for Environment. On 14 October 2025 the government, through Minister Gayle Tierney, who was representing Steve Dimopoulos, the Minister for Environment at the time, in this chamber gave an explicit commitment that Parks Victoria would establish a new Albert Park advisory committee to improve engagement with the park’s stakeholders, such as local sporting clubs, park users and environmental advocates. The chamber was told that Parks Victoria had already begun drafting the process, but nearly 10 months later stakeholders have seen no committee, no terms of reference and no public process for appointing members. In a functioning government establishing one local consultative committee should not be so hard. Minister, why has Labor failed to deliver this commitment?
Enver ERDOGAN (Northern Metropolitan – Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation, Minister for Environment, Minister for Outdoor Recreation) (12:11): I thank Ms Copsey for her question and her interest in this matter. I understand these concerns have been raised a number of times not only in this place but broadly in the community, especially across Southern Metropolitan – in your electorate, Mr Batchelor’s electorate, Mr Berger’s electorate and that of others in this chamber, Ms Crozier and Mr Davis. They all work hard across the Southern Metropolitan Region. I do understand that, in relation to the specifics of that matter, Parks Victoria are working towards a resolution and setting up a committee. There are a number of entities, and that is a quite a specific question you have asked me today, so I will take guidance. I manage over a hundred committees – almost a thousand committees in fact. I think with that level of specificity I am happy to take it on notice and give you a written response in due course.
Katherine COPSEY (Southern Metropolitan) (12:12): Thank you, Minister. I look forward to that response. If you could also let me know, I understand there is a requirement and a commitment to compensate the Albert Park sporting clubs for losses sustained through the extended disruption caused by this government’s grand prix. My question is: why have you as minister not executed this following this year’s grand prix? And when should the sporting clubs expect this commitment to be actioned?
The PRESIDENT: I do not know if that was supplementary to the substantive.
Enver ERDOGAN (Northern Metropolitan – Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation, Minister for Environment, Minister for Outdoor Recreation) (12:13): I am happy to take it. I thank Ms Copsey for her supplementary question. I understand there are a range of concerns around Albert Park, especially about the use by and the effects of the grand prix. I know Mr Dimopoulos is proud of the record of our world-class event, the grand prix. I was fortunate enough to be there this year and see the hundreds of thousands of Victorians that attended that fantastic event, which is crucial to our visitor economy and our hospitality sector, but really across the board it is a world-class event. In relation to the concerns about Albert Park, I think, as I answered to the substantive, I will take that on notice. It is very specific. As the environment minister, I have about a thousand land management groups that report to me. I would not be able to give you a detailed response without notice that would do it justice, so I will take that on notice and respond in due course.