❓ Mr. Sutherland asks about the Perth Arena gala opening. The Minister details events leading up to the opening, including a George Michael concert, a free concert for locals, and a charity open day.
AnsweredQoN 193Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
PERTH ARENA —
GALA OPENING
193. Mr M.W. SUTHERLAND to the Minister for Sport and
Recreation:
On behalf of the member for Ocean
Reef, I wish to acknowledge the students from Mindarie Senior College who are
sitting in the gallery.
The Premier announced earlier this year that the gala opening
of the new Perth Arena would be on 10 November 2012. Can the minister provide
the house with details about events leading up to that date and, more
importantly, what the people of Western Australia can get expect to see on 10 November
2012?
GALA OPENING
193. Mr M.W. SUTHERLAND to the Minister for Sport and
Recreation:
On behalf of the member for Ocean
Reef, I wish to acknowledge the students from Mindarie Senior College who are
sitting in the gallery.
The Premier announced earlier this year that the gala opening
of the new Perth Arena would be on 10 November 2012. Can the minister provide
the house with details about events leading up to that date and, more
importantly, what the people of Western Australia can get expect to see on 10 November
2012?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Mount Lawley for the question.
I have some exciting information that I am sure all my
parliamentary colleagues will be keen to hear. As I think we already heard in
this place today, the Premier very early this morning announced that the first
act to play at the new world-class Perth Arena will be international pop legend
George Michael, who I am sure members all know!
Several members interjected.
Mr T.K. WALDRON :
You've got to have faith!
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, if I read my formal calls to order
list and get to the point at which it says ''Mandurah'', I see
that there are three calls. Members, I would like to be able to hear the answer
from the Minister for Sport and Recreation at this stage. I do not want to hear
anybody else. I particularly do not want to hear anything that resembles Wham!—or
George Michael.
Mr T.K. WALDRON :
It is interesting to note that George Michael was also the first act who
appeared at the new Wembley Stadium in June 2007. WA is going to feature
prominently on the national stage, because in November George Michael's
Symphonica Australian tour will commence in Perth and the arena will hold top
billing in a series of concerts right across the country. Obviously, the
state-of-the-art Perth Arena is the perfect backdrop for —
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Thank you, members!
Mr
T.K. WALDRON : — one of the most influential pop artists in recent
history. Like many music lovers—I am sure there are many in this place—I
look forward to hearing some of those Wham! songs from the 80s and some of his
more contemporary music. I was going to regale the Parliament with a couple of
his numbers and I know the member for Central Wheatbelt is also a big fan and
has done that before —
Several members interjected.
Mr
T.K. WALDRON : I have heard Careless
Whisper ! But I will not do that, Mr Speaker.
In addition to the gala opening —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Thank
you, members! Members, you have had some enjoyment out of this question. Member
for Girrawheen, I formally call you to order for the third time. I would like
to make some progress with this particular question and I think the Minister
for Sport and Recreation might also want to make some progress.
Mr T.K. WALDRON :
What is really important is that in addition to the gala opening, there will be
a number of opportunities for the community to get involved with opening
celebrations for the Perth Arena. Through AEG Ogden, which is the venue
operator, we intend to ensure that the arena is accessible to as many people in
the local community as possible. Lead-up events to the gala include a planned
free concert featuring local musicians on 2 November. This event will be
underwritten by the government, and we intend to set aside an allocation of
tickets for the construction workers from the venue in recognition of the
wonderful job they have done. We are also looking at holding a charity open day
on 4 November with a range of entertainers, sports stars and local identities
making appearances throughout the day, so there will be plenty of opportunity
for everyone to get involved. This is the first of many announcements we will
make for the venue. We expect the opening month of this venue to feature an
array of international and local stars and sporting events, probably the likes
of which have not been seen in Perth before.
I conclude by taking the opportunity to acknowledge the
VenuesWest chairman, Graham Partridge, and the board and staff for their role
in getting what could be a complex project to this point. I am very sure that
the new arena is in very capable hands. We will make more announcements in the
weeks to come. I am delighted that Western Australians can now look forward to
seeing some exciting sporting events, acts and stage things at the wonderful
new arena.
I have some exciting information that I am sure all my
parliamentary colleagues will be keen to hear. As I think we already heard in
this place today, the Premier very early this morning announced that the first
act to play at the new world-class Perth Arena will be international pop legend
George Michael, who I am sure members all know!
Several members interjected.
Mr T.K. WALDRON :
You've got to have faith!
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, if I read my formal calls to order
list and get to the point at which it says ''Mandurah'', I see
that there are three calls. Members, I would like to be able to hear the answer
from the Minister for Sport and Recreation at this stage. I do not want to hear
anybody else. I particularly do not want to hear anything that resembles Wham!—or
George Michael.
Mr T.K. WALDRON :
It is interesting to note that George Michael was also the first act who
appeared at the new Wembley Stadium in June 2007. WA is going to feature
prominently on the national stage, because in November George Michael's
Symphonica Australian tour will commence in Perth and the arena will hold top
billing in a series of concerts right across the country. Obviously, the
state-of-the-art Perth Arena is the perfect backdrop for —
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Thank you, members!
Mr
T.K. WALDRON : — one of the most influential pop artists in recent
history. Like many music lovers—I am sure there are many in this place—I
look forward to hearing some of those Wham! songs from the 80s and some of his
more contemporary music. I was going to regale the Parliament with a couple of
his numbers and I know the member for Central Wheatbelt is also a big fan and
has done that before —
Several members interjected.
Mr
T.K. WALDRON : I have heard Careless
Whisper ! But I will not do that, Mr Speaker.
In addition to the gala opening —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Thank
you, members! Members, you have had some enjoyment out of this question. Member
for Girrawheen, I formally call you to order for the third time. I would like
to make some progress with this particular question and I think the Minister
for Sport and Recreation might also want to make some progress.
Mr T.K. WALDRON :
What is really important is that in addition to the gala opening, there will be
a number of opportunities for the community to get involved with opening
celebrations for the Perth Arena. Through AEG Ogden, which is the venue
operator, we intend to ensure that the arena is accessible to as many people in
the local community as possible. Lead-up events to the gala include a planned
free concert featuring local musicians on 2 November. This event will be
underwritten by the government, and we intend to set aside an allocation of
tickets for the construction workers from the venue in recognition of the
wonderful job they have done. We are also looking at holding a charity open day
on 4 November with a range of entertainers, sports stars and local identities
making appearances throughout the day, so there will be plenty of opportunity
for everyone to get involved. This is the first of many announcements we will
make for the venue. We expect the opening month of this venue to feature an
array of international and local stars and sporting events, probably the likes
of which have not been seen in Perth before.
I conclude by taking the opportunity to acknowledge the
VenuesWest chairman, Graham Partridge, and the board and staff for their role
in getting what could be a complex project to this point. I am very sure that
the new arena is in very capable hands. We will make more announcements in the
weeks to come. I am delighted that Western Australians can now look forward to
seeing some exciting sporting events, acts and stage things at the wonderful
new arena.
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