❓ Question regarding the economic and cultural benefits of the Highway to Hell event during the Perth Festival 2020, and the Minister's positive response highlighting its success and impact on local businesses and community pride.
AnsweredQoN 132Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
HIGHWAY TO HELL — PERTH FESTIVAL 2020
132. Mrs L.M. O'MALLEY to the Minister for Culture and
the Arts:
I refer to the McGowan Labor government's
success in securing world-class events for WA that bring more visitors to the state and support the local economy. Can
the minister outline to the house how the overwhelmingly successful Highway
to Hell event provided not only a once-in-a-generation event for Western Australians,
but also a boost for businesses in my electorate?
132. Mrs L.M. O'MALLEY to the Minister for Culture and
the Arts:
I refer to the McGowan Labor government's
success in securing world-class events for WA that bring more visitors to the state and support the local economy. Can
the minister outline to the house how the overwhelmingly successful Highway
to Hell event provided not only a once-in-a-generation event for Western Australians,
but also a boost for businesses in my electorate?
AnswerView source ↗
I am very pleased to respond to the
member for Bicton's question. Every now and then in cultural history
there is an event that captures the imagination of the population, and there is
no doubt that the Highway to Hell event captured the imagination of Western
Australians; there is no doubt about that. I think it demonstrates how we, as Western Australians, should never be hesitant or
reluctant to celebrate our Western Australian stories. The Bon Scott and
AC/DC story that was encapsulated by the Highway to Hell event is a great
demonstration of the way in which a unique Western Australian cultural story
can attract people of all backgrounds, tastes and experiences, from all parts
of Australia and Western Australia, and some international visitors, and we
should be very proud of that. There is no
doubt that it exceeded expectations. For those of us who were there, I was at
the Canning Bridge quarter watching the streaming numbers of people, of
all ages, coming across Canning Bridge. There were people at Tompkins Park who
gathered for the world record attempt. We now, thankfully and happily, are the
world record holders here in Perth for the —
The SPEAKER : May I interject?
The member for Murray–Wellington and I are world record holders, so I just
thought I would let the member know.
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : There you
are, Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker is part of the biggest air guitar ensemble in which
over 3 500 people put us into the Guinness World Records under the
tuition of the ''ginger assassin'', who is a teacher from the
member for Swan Hills' electorate up in Ellenbrook. The benefits to the
Western Australian community and the businesses along the Highway to Hell —the
stretch of Canning Highway—was immeasurable. There was a huge response
from the local businesses along there and massive responses from people,
posting their interpretation of their experiences. A big shout out to those at
the Perth Festival. This was a Perth Festival event, supported very strongly by the Western Australian Tourism Commission.
The Minister for Tourism has now signed an agreement with the Perth Festival so that there will be a signature
event. We want to congratulate and acknowledge all the emergency
services personnel and the police who were part of it. Main Roads and the
Public Transport Authority did a tremendous job. Quite frankly, I think David
Hines said it a few days before that they were wondering what exactly was going
to happen, because this event has not happened on this scale or at this level of
uniqueness before.
Again,
people responded brilliantly. In these testing and challenging times it really
is important to reflect on what can be achieved when we all come
together and when we share a unique story that is our Western Australian story
and that we acknowledge the tremendous contribution that culture and art
activities can and do play in the economy of Western Australia. We also
acknowledge that we should never be ashamed of telling the world our Western Australian
stories.
I have to tell members that on The
Project on Channel 10 a few days before there was a bit of ridicule about
this event. I tell members that we proved them wrong. We are proud of Western Australia.
We are proud of our creative artists. There were over 1 000 artists included in
the event, including a massive sausage roll! All those things demonstrated that
we should be very proud that we can peak during these events and that they will
attract lots and lots of people. They will be great for business, and they will
demonstrate an ongoing pride in what we can produce in Western Australia, going
forward, in the creative industries.
member for Bicton's question. Every now and then in cultural history
there is an event that captures the imagination of the population, and there is
no doubt that the Highway to Hell event captured the imagination of Western
Australians; there is no doubt about that. I think it demonstrates how we, as Western Australians, should never be hesitant or
reluctant to celebrate our Western Australian stories. The Bon Scott and
AC/DC story that was encapsulated by the Highway to Hell event is a great
demonstration of the way in which a unique Western Australian cultural story
can attract people of all backgrounds, tastes and experiences, from all parts
of Australia and Western Australia, and some international visitors, and we
should be very proud of that. There is no
doubt that it exceeded expectations. For those of us who were there, I was at
the Canning Bridge quarter watching the streaming numbers of people, of
all ages, coming across Canning Bridge. There were people at Tompkins Park who
gathered for the world record attempt. We now, thankfully and happily, are the
world record holders here in Perth for the —
The SPEAKER : May I interject?
The member for Murray–Wellington and I are world record holders, so I just
thought I would let the member know.
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : There you
are, Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker is part of the biggest air guitar ensemble in which
over 3 500 people put us into the Guinness World Records under the
tuition of the ''ginger assassin'', who is a teacher from the
member for Swan Hills' electorate up in Ellenbrook. The benefits to the
Western Australian community and the businesses along the Highway to Hell —the
stretch of Canning Highway—was immeasurable. There was a huge response
from the local businesses along there and massive responses from people,
posting their interpretation of their experiences. A big shout out to those at
the Perth Festival. This was a Perth Festival event, supported very strongly by the Western Australian Tourism Commission.
The Minister for Tourism has now signed an agreement with the Perth Festival so that there will be a signature
event. We want to congratulate and acknowledge all the emergency
services personnel and the police who were part of it. Main Roads and the
Public Transport Authority did a tremendous job. Quite frankly, I think David
Hines said it a few days before that they were wondering what exactly was going
to happen, because this event has not happened on this scale or at this level of
uniqueness before.
Again,
people responded brilliantly. In these testing and challenging times it really
is important to reflect on what can be achieved when we all come
together and when we share a unique story that is our Western Australian story
and that we acknowledge the tremendous contribution that culture and art
activities can and do play in the economy of Western Australia. We also
acknowledge that we should never be ashamed of telling the world our Western Australian
stories.
I have to tell members that on The
Project on Channel 10 a few days before there was a bit of ridicule about
this event. I tell members that we proved them wrong. We are proud of Western Australia.
We are proud of our creative artists. There were over 1 000 artists included in
the event, including a massive sausage roll! All those things demonstrated that
we should be very proud that we can peak during these events and that they will
attract lots and lots of people. They will be great for business, and they will
demonstrate an ongoing pride in what we can produce in Western Australia, going
forward, in the creative industries.
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