❓ Question on leveraging major events to boost WA's economy and job creation, met with a response highlighting the success of recent events like WWE and Bledisloe Cup, and criticising the opposition's perceived negativity towards such initiatives.
AnsweredQoN 516Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Tourism—Major events
516. Mr Stuart Aubrey to
the Minister for Tourism:
I refer to the Cook
Labor government's commitment to diversifying Western Australia's economy
through a strong tourism industry.
(1) Can the minister advise the house how this
government is leveraging major events to boost the state's economy and create
jobs?
(2) Is the minister aware of any opposing views
that may undermine this important work?
Mr Reece Whitby: Thank you, member for Scarborough, I
appreciate that.
Mr Basil Zempilas interjected.
The Speaker: Leader of the Opposition!
516. Mr Stuart Aubrey to
the Minister for Tourism:
I refer to the Cook
Labor government's commitment to diversifying Western Australia's economy
through a strong tourism industry.
(1) Can the minister advise the house how this
government is leveraging major events to boost the state's economy and create
jobs?
(2) Is the minister aware of any opposing views
that may undermine this important work?
Mr Reece Whitby: Thank you, member for Scarborough, I
appreciate that.
Mr Basil Zempilas interjected.
The Speaker: Leader of the Opposition!
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) Members will recall the attitude
of members opposite, particularly the Leader of the Opposition, to some of our
big events—indeed, all of our big events. We heard the "no-alition"
over there. They are always sceptical, critical and saying no. I would like to
begin my response to the member for Scarborough with the words of WWE superstar
Grayson Waller, because I think he captured the moment. He said, "All the
big shows are coming to Perth and when you get here, you see why Perth is
almost like the big event capital right now."
This is coming from someone from
Sydney, so, there you go—Grayson captured the moment. He explained it
better. When I heard Grayson say those comments on Channel 9, I thought, "Is
he reading one of our media statements? I could not have said it better myself."
Members, it is clear that WA is the place to be when someone wants to
experience world-class events that have people flocking. We know about the
phenomenon that was WWE just last weekend. We all have the stories, members, do
we not? We have seen thousands of people from out of Western Australia, whether
they are from Sydney, Adelaide, Melbourne, Singapore or overseas, here to see
big events. They are actually doing more. They are renting cars and going to
members' electorates in the regions. They are going up north. They are still
here, in fact. They are getting out and about and they are enjoying Western
Australia.
In spite of the scepticism, the
cynicism, the cynical "no-alition" over there, what was the result of
WWE? What was the result? It was sold out every night, members. It was sold out
every night. There were 14,000 people packed into RAC arena, night after night.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Mr Lachlan Hunter interjected.
Mr Reece Whitby: You hate this stuff, don't you? You
cannot stand it, mate. I have got news for the member for Central Wheatbelt. He
should talk to his constituents sometime and see what they enjoy.
Mr Lachlan Hunter interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Central Wheatbelt! You do not
just yell across the chamber. I am going to call you for the second time.
Mr Reece Whitby: Maybe for this listening tour of
theirs, they should actually open their ears and really listen to what people
are saying out in the community, out in the outer suburbs, in the regions
across Western Australia. People are flocking to these events. There were 14,000
people every night at RAC Arena, spending thousands of dollars in
accommodation, going out to restaurants, going out to cafes. It is a boost for
family-owned small businesses across Western Australia, in the regions and in
Perth. There was in excess of 40,000 people.
Ms Rita Saffioti: Do not forget the
Commonwealth Games.
Mr Reece Whitby: I will get to that.
That was backed up
with the Bledisloe Cup in Perth. That was more than 60,000 people. Again,
another capacity event. Again, many people from around the world and
particularly interstate came here, spending thousands of dollars each—millions
of dollars.
Mr Basil Zempilas interjected.
The Speaker: Leader of the Opposition, if you want to
get up and ask a question, please do. In the meantime, let the minister respond
to the question.
Mr Reece Whitby: We know the Leader of the Opposition
and members opposite hate big events. What do they have against Western
Australia? What do they have against people coming here, spending their money,
creating jobs and growing our economy? I could go on. An amount of $49 million
was invested in the state's economy after the UFC and WWE events last year.
That was last year. We will wait and see what the numbers are for this recent
event. In total, for 2024–25, our government funded 117 events across
the state—regional events too. This is doing good things for the
regions, bringing people right across Western Australia, with visitors
generating $187 million. They are playing a key role. We want to grow our
economy, we want a diversified economy, we want more opportunities and more
jobs. I thank the Leader of the National Party for nodding, because he can
obviously see this too.
We are getting real
results. In 2024–25, Perth had the highest national hotel occupancy
average—the highest in the nation. It was particularly strong in the
months that are traditionally quieter. We are doing things to have a year-round calendar to get people here to support
businesses, so there are no off seasons. Our government was proud to invest
in the first Ashes test of 2025. At the moment, we see hotel occupancy above
82% for the period of the Ashes, which is more than double that for the same
time last year. More than doubling the hotel occupancy rate in Perth at that
quieter time is going to do so much for our hospitality industry across Western
Australia. It is also good for jobs. We have free TAFE courses, so people who
are trained in hospitality and tourism events will have year-round work in the
future, when we keep this year-round calendar of events going.
What would the
opposition do here? They would support none of this. We would not have seen the
thousands in Perth and across WA. We would not have seen the Bledisloe Cup, the
packed out Optus Stadium. We would have seen about $2 billion spent on a
Commonwealth Games. Look, it is a great spectacle, the Commonwealth Games. It
has legacy and tradition. But I challenge anyone here, and ask—without googling
it—where was the last Commonwealth Games? Where was it? Unfortunately,
it is an event that I think has passed its day.
I see we have the
Leader of the Opposition over there who wanted to invest $2 billion, at least,
on a range of infrastructure that would have been used for nine days. That is
the choice we have. Do we want a year-round calendar that keeps bringing people
to Western Australia, or do we want a $2 billion white elephant? I will
conclude by quoting the words of a UFC star. UFC star Jack Jenkins said it best
about the certain "both ways" character over there:
He should leave the fight business to
us and go back to MC-ing the AFL.
of members opposite, particularly the Leader of the Opposition, to some of our
big events—indeed, all of our big events. We heard the "no-alition"
over there. They are always sceptical, critical and saying no. I would like to
begin my response to the member for Scarborough with the words of WWE superstar
Grayson Waller, because I think he captured the moment. He said, "All the
big shows are coming to Perth and when you get here, you see why Perth is
almost like the big event capital right now."
This is coming from someone from
Sydney, so, there you go—Grayson captured the moment. He explained it
better. When I heard Grayson say those comments on Channel 9, I thought, "Is
he reading one of our media statements? I could not have said it better myself."
Members, it is clear that WA is the place to be when someone wants to
experience world-class events that have people flocking. We know about the
phenomenon that was WWE just last weekend. We all have the stories, members, do
we not? We have seen thousands of people from out of Western Australia, whether
they are from Sydney, Adelaide, Melbourne, Singapore or overseas, here to see
big events. They are actually doing more. They are renting cars and going to
members' electorates in the regions. They are going up north. They are still
here, in fact. They are getting out and about and they are enjoying Western
Australia.
In spite of the scepticism, the
cynicism, the cynical "no-alition" over there, what was the result of
WWE? What was the result? It was sold out every night, members. It was sold out
every night. There were 14,000 people packed into RAC arena, night after night.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Mr Lachlan Hunter interjected.
Mr Reece Whitby: You hate this stuff, don't you? You
cannot stand it, mate. I have got news for the member for Central Wheatbelt. He
should talk to his constituents sometime and see what they enjoy.
Mr Lachlan Hunter interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Central Wheatbelt! You do not
just yell across the chamber. I am going to call you for the second time.
Mr Reece Whitby: Maybe for this listening tour of
theirs, they should actually open their ears and really listen to what people
are saying out in the community, out in the outer suburbs, in the regions
across Western Australia. People are flocking to these events. There were 14,000
people every night at RAC Arena, spending thousands of dollars in
accommodation, going out to restaurants, going out to cafes. It is a boost for
family-owned small businesses across Western Australia, in the regions and in
Perth. There was in excess of 40,000 people.
Ms Rita Saffioti: Do not forget the
Commonwealth Games.
Mr Reece Whitby: I will get to that.
That was backed up
with the Bledisloe Cup in Perth. That was more than 60,000 people. Again,
another capacity event. Again, many people from around the world and
particularly interstate came here, spending thousands of dollars each—millions
of dollars.
Mr Basil Zempilas interjected.
The Speaker: Leader of the Opposition, if you want to
get up and ask a question, please do. In the meantime, let the minister respond
to the question.
Mr Reece Whitby: We know the Leader of the Opposition
and members opposite hate big events. What do they have against Western
Australia? What do they have against people coming here, spending their money,
creating jobs and growing our economy? I could go on. An amount of $49 million
was invested in the state's economy after the UFC and WWE events last year.
That was last year. We will wait and see what the numbers are for this recent
event. In total, for 2024–25, our government funded 117 events across
the state—regional events too. This is doing good things for the
regions, bringing people right across Western Australia, with visitors
generating $187 million. They are playing a key role. We want to grow our
economy, we want a diversified economy, we want more opportunities and more
jobs. I thank the Leader of the National Party for nodding, because he can
obviously see this too.
We are getting real
results. In 2024–25, Perth had the highest national hotel occupancy
average—the highest in the nation. It was particularly strong in the
months that are traditionally quieter. We are doing things to have a year-round calendar to get people here to support
businesses, so there are no off seasons. Our government was proud to invest
in the first Ashes test of 2025. At the moment, we see hotel occupancy above
82% for the period of the Ashes, which is more than double that for the same
time last year. More than doubling the hotel occupancy rate in Perth at that
quieter time is going to do so much for our hospitality industry across Western
Australia. It is also good for jobs. We have free TAFE courses, so people who
are trained in hospitality and tourism events will have year-round work in the
future, when we keep this year-round calendar of events going.
What would the
opposition do here? They would support none of this. We would not have seen the
thousands in Perth and across WA. We would not have seen the Bledisloe Cup, the
packed out Optus Stadium. We would have seen about $2 billion spent on a
Commonwealth Games. Look, it is a great spectacle, the Commonwealth Games. It
has legacy and tradition. But I challenge anyone here, and ask—without googling
it—where was the last Commonwealth Games? Where was it? Unfortunately,
it is an event that I think has passed its day.
I see we have the
Leader of the Opposition over there who wanted to invest $2 billion, at least,
on a range of infrastructure that would have been used for nine days. That is
the choice we have. Do we want a year-round calendar that keeps bringing people
to Western Australia, or do we want a $2 billion white elephant? I will
conclude by quoting the words of a UFC star. UFC star Jack Jenkins said it best
about the certain "both ways" character over there:
He should leave the fight business to
us and go back to MC-ing the AFL.
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