❓ Question regarding a potential Supercars deal and prior commitments for Formula E/MotoGP at the proposed Burswood Park racetrack. The Minister provides background on the precinct's development and economic benefits, without directly confirming or denying a Supercars deal.
AnsweredQoN 430Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Burswood Park motorplex—Supercars
430. Mr Peter Rundle to
the Minister for Sport and Recreation:
I refer to the
minister's unpopular and unwanted racetrack at Burswood.
(1) Has the government signed a deal with
Supercars to host a race round at Burswood?
(2) If yes, will the minister table that
agreement?
(3) Will the minister still deliver on her
election commitment that the proposed racetrack at Burswood Park will be used
for Formula E or MotoGP events?
430. Mr Peter Rundle to
the Minister for Sport and Recreation:
I refer to the
minister's unpopular and unwanted racetrack at Burswood.
(1) Has the government signed a deal with
Supercars to host a race round at Burswood?
(2) If yes, will the minister table that
agreement?
(3) Will the minister still deliver on her
election commitment that the proposed racetrack at Burswood Park will be used
for Formula E or MotoGP events?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3) As I recall, people say I am
having Formula 1 there. Jeez, I wish!
Mr Roger Cook: According to the Liberal Party,
they would have a dragstrip there!
Ms Rita Saffioti: Yes, apparently.
I remember the day
we were out there announcing this new precinct. I will give some background
about it. The former head of the Burswood Parks Board, Mr John McGrath, came to
us and said it had plans to create a sports and entertainment precinct between Perth
Stadium and Burswood Casino because that land had been underutilised for many
years. I think there was a cement factory, then it was uncontrolled landfill
and then it was an 18-hole golf course. Of course, half of that golf course
became the stadium and the other half was just left the for future activity.
What was being planned was a significant outdoor entertainment precinct,
including the delivery of a 10,000 to 20,000 spectator amphitheatre. I note
that that is something that the events industry has been calling for for many
years. The cost of set-up, particularly post-COVID, has seen the cost of events
increase significantly— so staging set-up,
portable toilets and mobilising energy and water infrastructure has, in many
instances, made some of these events cost-prohibitive. We also had the
cycling community say it wanted a closed-track criterium. As we all know, on
the weekend—and we all love it—when those cyclists go past, we
think maybe they could be in another area.
Mr Roger Cook: Steady on!
Ms Rita Saffioti: Sorry!
Maybe they could not
be competing with us on the roads. There may be a safer area, so a closed-track
criterium, where those hardcore cyclists can go as fast as they want. It could
also be part of the AusCycling Road National Championships, which we were very
fortunate to hold in January this year at Northbridge. I do not know whether
anyone went there. It was fantastic. Tens of thousands of people went there. AusCycling
was very much putting forward to us how it wants a permanent ability to have
some closed-track racing. At the same time, there were discussions about having
a street circuit, noting Supercars' exposure in South-East Asia and the fact
that street circuits become entire-community events. In South Australia the Malinauskas
government made an election commitment to bring back the street circuit that
the previous government had cut. Its analysis showed that just that street race
has an economic benefit of over $68 million dollars a year. So all of those
things have come together.
I know that for
whatever reason, the Nationals WA and the Liberal Party are against motorsport.
I do not understand the National Party—maybe it has just become too
urbane; I do not know.
Mr Lachlan Hunter interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Ms Rita Saffioti: You have been letting me do what?
Mr Lachlan Hunter: Go on and on.
Ms Rita Saffioti: Thank you!
The Speaker: Member for Central Wheatbelt!
Ms Rita Saffioti: As a result, we have been
negotiating in relation to this precinct. I understand that the Leader of the
Opposition has already changed his view on this. Remember in 2021—he
loved motorsport! He went out and said Western Australians love motorsport. I
understand that he said to the media yesterday—
Point of order
Mr Lachlan Hunter: The member for Roe asked a very
specific question around whether the minister had signed a deal with Supercars and
about Formula E and MotoGP events. The minister has not gone even close to
answering the question.
The Speaker: I shall not uphold that point of order.
The minister is providing context to the basis of the question. Carry on,
minister.
Questions without notice resumed
Ms Rita Saffioti: The Leader of the Opposition yesterday
said, "Look, we like every other aspect apart from the track." So, now
he likes the amphitheatre. Do you like the amphitheatre? Oh, he cannot talk
again!
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Ms Rita Saffioti: You know, it is like when you are on
Teams and you are trying to unmute!
Mr David Michael: When you're watching the
footy, and you turn down the ABC.
Ms Rita Saffioti: Yes, when those commentators are
giving me a hard time. It is those commentators!
The Leader of the
Opposition said yesterday, "I like every other part apart from the
racetrack." A couple years ago it was, "People love motorsport. It
activates a city; it is great! Motorsport is great!" It was, "I don't
like the precinct", and now, "I like the precinct except for the
track."
Ms Sandra Brewer interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Cottesloe! You interrupted me.
I was about to call the member for Central Wheatbelt for the second time.
Ms Rita Saffioti: The member for Cottesloe loves
Metronet!
Ms Sandra Brewer: The Dockers would still be
playing at Subiaco if you had your way.
Ms Rita Saffioti: Maybe we would have won! Maybe that
was the X factor that would have got us over the line. I wish we were still
playing at Subiaco because that meant we were still in the finals, members.
Honestly!
The Speaker: Thank
you, minister. If you could start to conclude your comments.
Ms Rita Saffioti: The other thing about this precinct
is that someone came up to me recently and said, "I can't believe what the
Leader of the Opposition is saying about this facility. We had some meetings
with them recently and last year and he said he loved the project, and how he said,
'Look, we are just going to make a bit of noise and afterwards we will back it.'"
Several members
interjected.
Ms Rita Saffioti: "Both Ways Baz" at it
again! Like today, he was in the front row at the opening of the cricket season,
the person who criticised the WACA, criticised the former CEO—
Ms Sandra Brewer: You're the person who
criticised Optus Stadium!
The Speaker: Member for Cottesloe, I am going to call
you for the first time. Please do not do that. If you could conclude, minister,
please.
Mr Basil Zempilas interjected.
The Speaker: Leader of the Opposition, you are not
helping the minister conclude her comments.
Ms Rita Saffioti: I think the fact that he turned up
just shows he has more front than Myers! He criticised the WACA, criticised everything
to do with cricket, and then he was there watching and applauding, even though
if it was up to him—
Ms Sandra Brewer: Like you at Optus!
The Speaker: Member for Cottesloe!
Ms Rita Saffioti: How is Metronet going for you?
The Speaker: Minister!
Ms Rita Saffioti: How is budget management? How is our
entire government? How is our infill program?
The Speaker: Minister! If you could conclude your
remarks, please.
Ms Rita Saffioti: We are in the process of finalising
all the details for the new precinct. We have not signed any commitments to
this new precinct because we are still in the process of finalising the
planning.
having Formula 1 there. Jeez, I wish!
Mr Roger Cook: According to the Liberal Party,
they would have a dragstrip there!
Ms Rita Saffioti: Yes, apparently.
I remember the day
we were out there announcing this new precinct. I will give some background
about it. The former head of the Burswood Parks Board, Mr John McGrath, came to
us and said it had plans to create a sports and entertainment precinct between Perth
Stadium and Burswood Casino because that land had been underutilised for many
years. I think there was a cement factory, then it was uncontrolled landfill
and then it was an 18-hole golf course. Of course, half of that golf course
became the stadium and the other half was just left the for future activity.
What was being planned was a significant outdoor entertainment precinct,
including the delivery of a 10,000 to 20,000 spectator amphitheatre. I note
that that is something that the events industry has been calling for for many
years. The cost of set-up, particularly post-COVID, has seen the cost of events
increase significantly— so staging set-up,
portable toilets and mobilising energy and water infrastructure has, in many
instances, made some of these events cost-prohibitive. We also had the
cycling community say it wanted a closed-track criterium. As we all know, on
the weekend—and we all love it—when those cyclists go past, we
think maybe they could be in another area.
Mr Roger Cook: Steady on!
Ms Rita Saffioti: Sorry!
Maybe they could not
be competing with us on the roads. There may be a safer area, so a closed-track
criterium, where those hardcore cyclists can go as fast as they want. It could
also be part of the AusCycling Road National Championships, which we were very
fortunate to hold in January this year at Northbridge. I do not know whether
anyone went there. It was fantastic. Tens of thousands of people went there. AusCycling
was very much putting forward to us how it wants a permanent ability to have
some closed-track racing. At the same time, there were discussions about having
a street circuit, noting Supercars' exposure in South-East Asia and the fact
that street circuits become entire-community events. In South Australia the Malinauskas
government made an election commitment to bring back the street circuit that
the previous government had cut. Its analysis showed that just that street race
has an economic benefit of over $68 million dollars a year. So all of those
things have come together.
I know that for
whatever reason, the Nationals WA and the Liberal Party are against motorsport.
I do not understand the National Party—maybe it has just become too
urbane; I do not know.
Mr Lachlan Hunter interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Ms Rita Saffioti: You have been letting me do what?
Mr Lachlan Hunter: Go on and on.
Ms Rita Saffioti: Thank you!
The Speaker: Member for Central Wheatbelt!
Ms Rita Saffioti: As a result, we have been
negotiating in relation to this precinct. I understand that the Leader of the
Opposition has already changed his view on this. Remember in 2021—he
loved motorsport! He went out and said Western Australians love motorsport. I
understand that he said to the media yesterday—
Point of order
Mr Lachlan Hunter: The member for Roe asked a very
specific question around whether the minister had signed a deal with Supercars and
about Formula E and MotoGP events. The minister has not gone even close to
answering the question.
The Speaker: I shall not uphold that point of order.
The minister is providing context to the basis of the question. Carry on,
minister.
Questions without notice resumed
Ms Rita Saffioti: The Leader of the Opposition yesterday
said, "Look, we like every other aspect apart from the track." So, now
he likes the amphitheatre. Do you like the amphitheatre? Oh, he cannot talk
again!
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Ms Rita Saffioti: You know, it is like when you are on
Teams and you are trying to unmute!
Mr David Michael: When you're watching the
footy, and you turn down the ABC.
Ms Rita Saffioti: Yes, when those commentators are
giving me a hard time. It is those commentators!
The Leader of the
Opposition said yesterday, "I like every other part apart from the
racetrack." A couple years ago it was, "People love motorsport. It
activates a city; it is great! Motorsport is great!" It was, "I don't
like the precinct", and now, "I like the precinct except for the
track."
Ms Sandra Brewer interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Cottesloe! You interrupted me.
I was about to call the member for Central Wheatbelt for the second time.
Ms Rita Saffioti: The member for Cottesloe loves
Metronet!
Ms Sandra Brewer: The Dockers would still be
playing at Subiaco if you had your way.
Ms Rita Saffioti: Maybe we would have won! Maybe that
was the X factor that would have got us over the line. I wish we were still
playing at Subiaco because that meant we were still in the finals, members.
Honestly!
The Speaker: Thank
you, minister. If you could start to conclude your comments.
Ms Rita Saffioti: The other thing about this precinct
is that someone came up to me recently and said, "I can't believe what the
Leader of the Opposition is saying about this facility. We had some meetings
with them recently and last year and he said he loved the project, and how he said,
'Look, we are just going to make a bit of noise and afterwards we will back it.'"
Several members
interjected.
Ms Rita Saffioti: "Both Ways Baz" at it
again! Like today, he was in the front row at the opening of the cricket season,
the person who criticised the WACA, criticised the former CEO—
Ms Sandra Brewer: You're the person who
criticised Optus Stadium!
The Speaker: Member for Cottesloe, I am going to call
you for the first time. Please do not do that. If you could conclude, minister,
please.
Mr Basil Zempilas interjected.
The Speaker: Leader of the Opposition, you are not
helping the minister conclude her comments.
Ms Rita Saffioti: I think the fact that he turned up
just shows he has more front than Myers! He criticised the WACA, criticised everything
to do with cricket, and then he was there watching and applauding, even though
if it was up to him—
Ms Sandra Brewer: Like you at Optus!
The Speaker: Member for Cottesloe!
Ms Rita Saffioti: How is Metronet going for you?
The Speaker: Minister!
Ms Rita Saffioti: How is budget management? How is our
entire government? How is our infill program?
The Speaker: Minister! If you could conclude your
remarks, please.
Ms Rita Saffioti: We are in the process of finalising
all the details for the new precinct. We have not signed any commitments to
this new precinct because we are still in the process of finalising the
planning.
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