Mr BALCH - 2000-05-18
The V8 Supercars arrive in town today for the 3rd Darwin series at Hidden Valley Speedway and I’m sure all honourable members will be attending over this weekend. I understand the government has an option for a further 5 years on the Supercar Challenge. Can you please tell this House whether the government intends to take up this option?
ANSWER
A famous Roman philosopher, whose name escapes me, once said that governments are about bread and circuses, and yesterday was the bread –good government producing a good budget leading to jobs and prosperity so that Territorians and their families and their children can know that there is a positive future and boundless opportunity in the Northern Territory.
But the people need circuses as well, and this V8 Supercars series is part of that. It costs the Northern Territory government money; yes, we accept that. It is widely supported in Darwin to the extent that this year we are expecting, over a 3 day period, crowds of up to 30 000. That number, given the population of Darwin, makes this a major event in any calendar in any city anywhere in Australia. If you ask any of the drivers in the Supercars they would say that their favourite round is in Darwin. Certainly the crowds that we attract, as a proportion of our population, makes it a major round in the whole series.
As you would know, the Supercar round in Darwin is contracted up until 2002. We intend to keep that round in Darwin. We are under increased pressure and competition from other venues all around Australia who are vying for a round in that series. Other governments are now getting into the game. The South Australian and ACT governments have now secured a round, so we need to make sure that we are competitive and can get some security with the round that we have. It also is a win-win situation.
One of the reasons we are negotiating an extension to the 2002-2005 deal is that the Supercar series wants to get a round in Asia. If they can get a round in Asia, one of the advantages in terms of transportation of the cars and equipment is that they would launch into Asia after the round that they do in Darwin. A win-win situation is being produced. I am certainly very hopeful that I can take to Cabinet an offer that will allow us to sign a deal to keep that race in Darwin until 2005.
An additional $460 000 was spent this year on the race. Essentially, that money went into improved drainage for the track so that we do not have erosion problems during the wet season, and improvements to the public amenities and the toilets. The family package, as anyone will see, has gone from $70 to $50 to make the race more affordable for the average family, and certainly government is doing its best to ensure that these 3 days are an exciting 3 days for all Territorians.
ANSWER
A famous Roman philosopher, whose name escapes me, once said that governments are about bread and circuses, and yesterday was the bread –good government producing a good budget leading to jobs and prosperity so that Territorians and their families and their children can know that there is a positive future and boundless opportunity in the Northern Territory.
But the people need circuses as well, and this V8 Supercars series is part of that. It costs the Northern Territory government money; yes, we accept that. It is widely supported in Darwin to the extent that this year we are expecting, over a 3 day period, crowds of up to 30 000. That number, given the population of Darwin, makes this a major event in any calendar in any city anywhere in Australia. If you ask any of the drivers in the Supercars they would say that their favourite round is in Darwin. Certainly the crowds that we attract, as a proportion of our population, makes it a major round in the whole series.
As you would know, the Supercar round in Darwin is contracted up until 2002. We intend to keep that round in Darwin. We are under increased pressure and competition from other venues all around Australia who are vying for a round in that series. Other governments are now getting into the game. The South Australian and ACT governments have now secured a round, so we need to make sure that we are competitive and can get some security with the round that we have. It also is a win-win situation.
One of the reasons we are negotiating an extension to the 2002-2005 deal is that the Supercar series wants to get a round in Asia. If they can get a round in Asia, one of the advantages in terms of transportation of the cars and equipment is that they would launch into Asia after the round that they do in Darwin. A win-win situation is being produced. I am certainly very hopeful that I can take to Cabinet an offer that will allow us to sign a deal to keep that race in Darwin until 2005.
An additional $460 000 was spent this year on the race. Essentially, that money went into improved drainage for the track so that we do not have erosion problems during the wet season, and improvements to the public amenities and the toilets. The family package, as anyone will see, has gone from $70 to $50 to make the race more affordable for the average family, and certainly government is doing its best to ensure that these 3 days are an exciting 3 days for all Territorians.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016