❓ A WA parliamentary question seeks details on government funding for a Top Gear live show, including amounts, sources, and projected tourist numbers. The Minister cites commercial sensitivity for withholding funding details, acknowledges previous inaccurate statement, and provides tourist estimate.
AnsweredQoN 6062Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
In relation to the State funding being provided for a non-televised live show derived from Top Gear at Burswood Dome, I ask:
(a) what amount of Government funding is being provided by Eventscorp for this performance; and
(i) if the Minister will not reveal the amount of government funding, why not;
(b) what other sources of Government funding or sponsorship, and from which Government Departments and Agencies, are being funnelled into the three-performance season of Top Gear; and
(i) if the Minister will not reveal the sources or the amounts, why not;
(c) what other Government Departments or Agencies are referred to in the Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) and/or funding agreement between Eventscorp and the owners of Top Gear;
(d) is the Minister aware that the Top Gear stage show has already been staged in Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney;
(e) what number of Asian tourists and from what countries are indicated in Eventscorp’s business case to justify the Government’s investment in Top Gear; and
(f) does the Minister stand by his Answer to Question Without Notice 512 on 30 August 2011, indicating that 385 million people will be watching a show filmed here in Western Australia?
(a) what amount of Government funding is being provided by Eventscorp for this performance; and
(i) if the Minister will not reveal the amount of government funding, why not;
(b) what other sources of Government funding or sponsorship, and from which Government Departments and Agencies, are being funnelled into the three-performance season of Top Gear; and
(i) if the Minister will not reveal the sources or the amounts, why not;
(c) what other Government Departments or Agencies are referred to in the Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) and/or funding agreement between Eventscorp and the owners of Top Gear;
(d) is the Minister aware that the Top Gear stage show has already been staged in Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney;
(e) what number of Asian tourists and from what countries are indicated in Eventscorp’s business case to justify the Government’s investment in Top Gear; and
(f) does the Minister stand by his Answer to Question Without Notice 512 on 30 August 2011, indicating that 385 million people will be watching a show filmed here in Western Australia?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
1 November 2011
Responded by
Minister for Tourism
Response time
56 days
(a)(i) Financial information related to the Top Gear Live Theatre Show is considered commercially sensitive.
Tourism Western Australia (Tourism WA) competes to develop and secure events for Western Australia in both the highly competitive national and international markets. The release of funding information into the public domain compromises Tourism WA's ability to successfully negotiate with and develop world class events for WA and would provide other Australian States/Territories or rival overseas destinations which have similar competing visitation and event objectives with an unfair advantage. If funding information became public an event or potential event may be lost to another Australian jurisdiction or competing overseas destination, and the funding required to secure an event may be increased substantially should another destination seek to attract the event and offer more funding to support the event activity or bid. This would have a considerable adverse effect on Tourism WA/Eventscorp's business, professional, commercial and financial affairs, as well as those of associated third parties, such as Brand Events (event holder of the Top Gear Live Theatre Shows).
The reality of working in a highly competitive and commercial environment is that failure to keep commercially sensitive information out of the public domain could result in a popular event becoming increasingly vulnerable to the poaching activities of national and international entities.
Specifically in relation to the Top Gear Live Theatre Shows, Eventscorp's relationship with Brand Events and its ability to work with the company in the future might be compromised because the public release of financial information could impact on Brand Events' 'bargaining power' when negotiating to stage future Top Gear Live Theatre Shows in other cities around the world.
Eventscorp's reputation and ability to negotiate low costs and favourable contractual terms and conditions will be compromised if event holders knew this information could be made public because other States or jurisdictions would then demand similar business arrangements. This situation particularly applies to events that are held in more than one location within Australia and overseas, such as the Top Gear Live Theatre Shows. The impact would likely be that WA would lose its appeal as an event host and its ability to negotiate lower costs with current or prospective event holders which may decline the opportunity to work with the Western Australian Government.
I have notified the Auditor General's office as per section 82 of the
Financial Management Act 2006
that the answer to this question does not include funding amounts.
(b) Eventscorp is not aware of any other Government funding being provided for the Top Gear performances.
(i) Not applicable.
(c) None.
(d) Yes.
(e) Eventscorp indicated in its feasibility study that approximately 1,750 tourists in total from South East Asia are estimated to attend the Top Gear Live Theatre Shows in Perth.
(f) No. I retracted my Answer to Question Without Notice 512 on Tuesday 6 September 2011.
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Tourism Western Australia (Tourism WA) competes to develop and secure events for Western Australia in both the highly competitive national and international markets. The release of funding information into the public domain compromises Tourism WA's ability to successfully negotiate with and develop world class events for WA and would provide other Australian States/Territories or rival overseas destinations which have similar competing visitation and event objectives with an unfair advantage. If funding information became public an event or potential event may be lost to another Australian jurisdiction or competing overseas destination, and the funding required to secure an event may be increased substantially should another destination seek to attract the event and offer more funding to support the event activity or bid. This would have a considerable adverse effect on Tourism WA/Eventscorp's business, professional, commercial and financial affairs, as well as those of associated third parties, such as Brand Events (event holder of the Top Gear Live Theatre Shows).
The reality of working in a highly competitive and commercial environment is that failure to keep commercially sensitive information out of the public domain could result in a popular event becoming increasingly vulnerable to the poaching activities of national and international entities.
Specifically in relation to the Top Gear Live Theatre Shows, Eventscorp's relationship with Brand Events and its ability to work with the company in the future might be compromised because the public release of financial information could impact on Brand Events' 'bargaining power' when negotiating to stage future Top Gear Live Theatre Shows in other cities around the world.
Eventscorp's reputation and ability to negotiate low costs and favourable contractual terms and conditions will be compromised if event holders knew this information could be made public because other States or jurisdictions would then demand similar business arrangements. This situation particularly applies to events that are held in more than one location within Australia and overseas, such as the Top Gear Live Theatre Shows. The impact would likely be that WA would lose its appeal as an event host and its ability to negotiate lower costs with current or prospective event holders which may decline the opportunity to work with the Western Australian Government.
I have notified the Auditor General's office as per section 82 of the
Financial Management Act 2006
that the answer to this question does not include funding amounts.
(b) Eventscorp is not aware of any other Government funding being provided for the Top Gear performances.
(i) Not applicable.
(c) None.
(d) Yes.
(e) Eventscorp indicated in its feasibility study that approximately 1,750 tourists in total from South East Asia are estimated to attend the Top Gear Live Theatre Shows in Perth.
(f) No. I retracted my Answer to Question Without Notice 512 on Tuesday 6 September 2011.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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