❓ Question on the economic and inspirational impact of the Matildas' Olympic qualifiers in Perth. The Minister's answer focuses on the event's success and then digresses into internal political conflicts within the opposition parties.
AnsweredQoN 834Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
TOURISM — MAJOR
EVENTS
834. Mr S.N. AUBREY to the Minister for Tourism:
I refer to the Cook Labor
government's efforts to boost tourism through its always-on events
strategy for Western Australia.
(1) Can the
minister advise the house what the delivery of the Matildas' Olympic
qualifiers here in Perth has meant for Western Australian businesses?
(2) Can the
minister inform the house how the success of this football event has inspired
other new contests in Western Australia?
EVENTS
834. Mr S.N. AUBREY to the Minister for Tourism:
I refer to the Cook Labor
government's efforts to boost tourism through its always-on events
strategy for Western Australia.
(1) Can the
minister advise the house what the delivery of the Matildas' Olympic
qualifiers here in Perth has meant for Western Australian businesses?
(2) Can the
minister inform the house how the success of this football event has inspired
other new contests in Western Australia?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I
thank the member for the question. Of course, the Matildas' Olympic
qualifier matches played in Western Australia
were a huge success. Almost 100 000 fans were at the three games. Of course, on
Sunday , 29 October, the match made history as the biggest football crowd
ever at Optus Stadium with almost 60 000 fans in attendance. Thousands of
out-of-state visitors were estimated to travel to these games. Additionally,
millions of viewers tuned in to Network Ten and Paramount in what was the
highest ever rating Matildas broadcast outside of the World Cup. It was a massive,
massive three games.
Of course, Western Australia was
promoted as a tourism destination. Not only did it promote Western Australia to the rest of the nation and
the rest of the world, but it created enthusiasm and excitement from the
Western Australian public. We saw hundreds and thousands of young Western Australians
lining up wanting the autograph, jumper or boots. It created absolute hysteria
amongst young people in Western Australia.
They were strong contests, and everyone can remember the hat-trick scored by
Sam Kerr in that game against the Philippines.
The question alluded to what other
contests it has inspired. We should look no further than the opposition to see
some of the contests that have been inspired more recently. We today saw the
contest between the Leader of the Liberal Party and the member for Cottesloe on
who actually develops policy on their side. The member for Cottesloe is
opposing the planning reform bills, and the Leader of the Liberal Party is
saying that they will support the planning reform bills. Who actually makes the
decision about these types of policies?
We have seen a movement between the
Nationals WA and the Liberal Party. We now see a battle over the Facebook site of the current member for North West
Central. Members might want to turn to exhibit A. Yesterday, the
movement began to steal the member for North West Central's Facebook
site. The National Party took the Facebook site of the member for North West Central.
Yesterday, the movement began. It took away the photo of the member for North West
Central and replaced it with Nationals; of course, it still had the member for
Central Wheatbelt and the member for North West Central, and it was still
authorised yesterday by the member for North West Central.
Today, members, it has all changed.
It says, ''Think local. Think National'', and there is no mention
of the member for North West Central. It is now authorised by the Nationals WA—stealing
the Facebook site. Importantly, they lost 16 members in that transition as 16
likes or followers disappeared.
Of course, tomorrow will be the
biggest contest of them all between the Leader of the Opposition and the Leader
of the Liberal Party about who should be Leader of the Opposition.
Mr P. Papalia : The Ballon d'Or
of the opposition!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : I was saying
that the current 3-all approach in the opposition is a bit like a football
game. At full-time, the score is 3-all and the question is: How do they sort it
out? Do they go into extra time? Do they go to a golden goal or do they have a penalty
shootout?
Members, we are looking forward to
seeing what happens over coming weeks. We want them to sort it out once and for all because the battle between the Liberal
Party and the National Party continues. We have a battle not only between the Liberal Party and the National Party, but also within the Liberal
Party, too.
thank the member for the question. Of course, the Matildas' Olympic
qualifier matches played in Western Australia
were a huge success. Almost 100 000 fans were at the three games. Of course, on
Sunday , 29 October, the match made history as the biggest football crowd
ever at Optus Stadium with almost 60 000 fans in attendance. Thousands of
out-of-state visitors were estimated to travel to these games. Additionally,
millions of viewers tuned in to Network Ten and Paramount in what was the
highest ever rating Matildas broadcast outside of the World Cup. It was a massive,
massive three games.
Of course, Western Australia was
promoted as a tourism destination. Not only did it promote Western Australia to the rest of the nation and
the rest of the world, but it created enthusiasm and excitement from the
Western Australian public. We saw hundreds and thousands of young Western Australians
lining up wanting the autograph, jumper or boots. It created absolute hysteria
amongst young people in Western Australia.
They were strong contests, and everyone can remember the hat-trick scored by
Sam Kerr in that game against the Philippines.
The question alluded to what other
contests it has inspired. We should look no further than the opposition to see
some of the contests that have been inspired more recently. We today saw the
contest between the Leader of the Liberal Party and the member for Cottesloe on
who actually develops policy on their side. The member for Cottesloe is
opposing the planning reform bills, and the Leader of the Liberal Party is
saying that they will support the planning reform bills. Who actually makes the
decision about these types of policies?
We have seen a movement between the
Nationals WA and the Liberal Party. We now see a battle over the Facebook site of the current member for North West
Central. Members might want to turn to exhibit A. Yesterday, the
movement began to steal the member for North West Central's Facebook
site. The National Party took the Facebook site of the member for North West Central.
Yesterday, the movement began. It took away the photo of the member for North West
Central and replaced it with Nationals; of course, it still had the member for
Central Wheatbelt and the member for North West Central, and it was still
authorised yesterday by the member for North West Central.
Today, members, it has all changed.
It says, ''Think local. Think National'', and there is no mention
of the member for North West Central. It is now authorised by the Nationals WA—stealing
the Facebook site. Importantly, they lost 16 members in that transition as 16
likes or followers disappeared.
Of course, tomorrow will be the
biggest contest of them all between the Leader of the Opposition and the Leader
of the Liberal Party about who should be Leader of the Opposition.
Mr P. Papalia : The Ballon d'Or
of the opposition!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : I was saying
that the current 3-all approach in the opposition is a bit like a football
game. At full-time, the score is 3-all and the question is: How do they sort it
out? Do they go into extra time? Do they go to a golden goal or do they have a penalty
shootout?
Members, we are looking forward to
seeing what happens over coming weeks. We want them to sort it out once and for all because the battle between the Liberal
Party and the National Party continues. We have a battle not only between the Liberal Party and the National Party, but also within the Liberal
Party, too.
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