❓ Mr. Watson questions the Minister about the WA Football Commission's role in operating the new Burswood Stadium and funding for grassroots football. The Minister avoids guaranteeing WAFC's involvement or funding levels, citing an open tender process.
AnsweredQoN 210Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
WEST
AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL COMMISSION — BURSWOOD STADIUM
210. Mr P.B. WATSON to the
Minister for Sport and Recreation:
I refer to the West Australian Football Commission's ''2013
Annual Review'' and the statement by the chairman, Mr Frank Cooper, that
—
For more than two decades, the WAFC's
role as a stadium operator has delivered important community benefits. Firstly,
the revenue derived has enabled the WAFC to fund grassroots football
(1) Will the
state government continue with the arrangements to have the WA Football
Commission operate the new stadium?
(2) If no to (1),
will the minister guarantee that the revenue to the WA Football Commission and
to grassroots football will continue at current levels if the WA Football
Commission is not the operator of the new stadium?
AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL COMMISSION — BURSWOOD STADIUM
210. Mr P.B. WATSON to the
Minister for Sport and Recreation:
I refer to the West Australian Football Commission's ''2013
Annual Review'' and the statement by the chairman, Mr Frank Cooper, that
—
For more than two decades, the WAFC's
role as a stadium operator has delivered important community benefits. Firstly,
the revenue derived has enabled the WAFC to fund grassroots football
(1) Will the
state government continue with the arrangements to have the WA Football
Commission operate the new stadium?
(2) If no to (1),
will the minister guarantee that the revenue to the WA Football Commission and
to grassroots football will continue at current levels if the WA Football
Commission is not the operator of the new stadium?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2)
I thank the member for Albany very much for his question. As the member knows,
I have a history at the West Australian Football Commission. What the
government will do with the new stadium —
Mr P.B. Watson : I
don't want to hear about what you've done; I want to hear about
what you're going to do!
Mr T.K. WALDRON : I
am going to answer the member's question.
Cabinet has endorsed the establishment of a negotiating team
to lead negotiations for the key sports utilising the stadium; they are the
user agreements. As for the stadium operator, that will be an open tender
process, as it should be, to make sure that we appoint the best operator to
manage the stadium. It could be football; I do not know. We will go out to
tender and that is what we will do.
As far as football is concerned, as Minister for Sport and
Recreation, I can say that this government has always said to football that we
will make sure that football remains strong in this state to the best of our
ability. However, I am not going to make guarantees, because a tender process
will take place. We will make sure that football continues to remain strong in
Western Australia. I think football is strong in Western Australia. Football is
doing a good job and the stadium will give football an opportunity. The new
facilities that we have built for sport give the sports greater opportunity to
build and earn further income. I congratulate the Perth Wildcats for the way it
has planned, promoted and embraced Perth Arena to make its sport more viable.
It has done a great job. I am sure that football will do the same.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I call you to order for the first time.
I thank the member for Albany very much for his question. As the member knows,
I have a history at the West Australian Football Commission. What the
government will do with the new stadium —
Mr P.B. Watson : I
don't want to hear about what you've done; I want to hear about
what you're going to do!
Mr T.K. WALDRON : I
am going to answer the member's question.
Cabinet has endorsed the establishment of a negotiating team
to lead negotiations for the key sports utilising the stadium; they are the
user agreements. As for the stadium operator, that will be an open tender
process, as it should be, to make sure that we appoint the best operator to
manage the stadium. It could be football; I do not know. We will go out to
tender and that is what we will do.
As far as football is concerned, as Minister for Sport and
Recreation, I can say that this government has always said to football that we
will make sure that football remains strong in this state to the best of our
ability. However, I am not going to make guarantees, because a tender process
will take place. We will make sure that football continues to remain strong in
Western Australia. I think football is strong in Western Australia. Football is
doing a good job and the stadium will give football an opportunity. The new
facilities that we have built for sport give the sports greater opportunity to
build and earn further income. I congratulate the Perth Wildcats for the way it
has planned, promoted and embraced Perth Arena to make its sport more viable.
It has done a great job. I am sure that football will do the same.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I call you to order for the first time.
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