Tuesday, 5 March 2024

Ministers statements: major events

Steve DIMOPOULOS (Oakleigh – Minister for Environment, Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events, Minister for Outdoor Recreation) (14:22): I rise to update the house on the sports and major events capital of Australia. It has been a big couple of months for Victorians, who love to enjoy some of the biggest and best events in the world. Our major events calendar is now worth a massive $3.3 billion in economic value to our state, supporting local businesses, communities and local jobs. It is a big serve for Victoria and over half a billion dollars more than it was prepandemic. Importantly, our major events industry delivers 15,000 jobs a year every year for Victorians.

As we enter mad March, here are a select number – maybe 10 – of recent major and regional events which have contributed to the growth of our $36 billion visitor economy. Number 1 is the Superbike World Championship hosted at Phillip Island, which I know the member for Bass was really excited about. Number 2 is the Matildas versus Uzbekistan match in front of a packed crowd at Marvel Stadium – 10–nil. Number 3 is the Maurie Plant Meet, the second highest ranking international track and field circuit, in the member for Albert Park’s electorate. Number 4 is the Riverboats Music Festival, which welcomed brilliant artists for a long weekend in the member for Murray Plains’s electorate. Number 5 is the Cadel Evans road race, which the member for Geelong tells me has enormous economic benefits for the region.

Number 6 is the Victorian Open golf event, where the member for Bellarine presented the winners trophies. Number 7 is the Boomers versus Korea basketball match at Red Energy Arena in Bendigo. Number 8 is the Titanic exhibition currently open at Melbourne Museum. Number 9 is the BBC Earth Experience at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. And of course number 10 is the Australian Open – 1.1 million attendees. The member for Nepean will remember how it felt when he looked up from the court and saw all his adoring fans cheering him on. Though he has now swapped the court for Parliament, he is still counting his numbers, and if the rumours are true, it is about to be game, set and match for the member for Hawthorn.

The SPEAKER: Before I call the member for Eildon can I acknowledge in the gallery the former member for Lyndhurst and Keysborough and former minister the Honourable Martin Pakula.