Mr HIGGINS - 2014-10-21
Alice Springs has just staged the 15th Masters Games. Can you please explain to the House how the friendly games were a huge success thanks to the several new initiatives of the Country Liberals Giles government?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member of Daly for his question. It is great to talk about yet another great achievement under the watch of the Giles Country Liberals government.
This was the 15th Alice Springs Masters Games, a huge significant boost to local hotels, restaurants, cafes and tour operators. This government understands the impact the games have on the economy. The impact it has on the economy in Alice Springs is somewhere between $9m and $20m; we have not pored over it forensically yet but that is the anecdotal evidence thus far – about a $20m injection into the Alice Springs economy, which is fantastic. That is why we worked so hard to reinvigorate the games for 2014.
It was great to see the games hub return to the centre of town. It drew more people right into the heart and centre of the CBD. This year there was a number of new initiatives government introduced which were a big hit. Thousands of people gathered under what were the sails in the centre of the mall to watch the big screen. We had daily highlights, with a daily wrap broadcast of all events.
More than 45 000 people were reached by the official Masters Games Facebook page. Some 4000 people read the daily games newspaper, The Friendly Times. It was fantastic.
The opening and closing ceremonies were a smashing success. We had Neil Diamond and the Beatles – or at least it was the Neil Diamond show, and the Beatnix were there – as well as Chocolate Starfish, among others – a huge couple of nights of entertainment. On the field, the games were a huge success. The competition is just as important; we had 110 records broken this year, 90 of those in the pool, with some of our Masters Games competitors doing tremendous stuff.
Seventeen of the 32 sports also increased participant numbers this year. It is a great story. The final participant numbers for the games for 2014 were a little over 3800, which puts us a smidge over the games of 2012. When you look at the market of the games, the space is so cluttered around Australia these days; it is a testament to Alice Springs that it is a drawcard, not only as a visitor and holiday destination, but as a host for the Masters Games.
One of the great stories coming out of the games was the camaraderie and friendship. Two Tasmanian visitors, in town for the basketball, marked the event by getting married.
Mr Wood interjecting.
Mr CONLAN: I will say that again, member for Nelson, as you might be interested in this because it is a wonderful story. Two Tasmanian visitors, in town for the basketball, chose to get married in Alice Springs during the games, with one of the ambassadors acting as a celebrant. It was a fantastic event, with camaraderie and friendship, and we look forward to seeing you again for the 2016 games.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
Mr ELFERINK (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member of Daly for his question. It is great to talk about yet another great achievement under the watch of the Giles Country Liberals government.
This was the 15th Alice Springs Masters Games, a huge significant boost to local hotels, restaurants, cafes and tour operators. This government understands the impact the games have on the economy. The impact it has on the economy in Alice Springs is somewhere between $9m and $20m; we have not pored over it forensically yet but that is the anecdotal evidence thus far – about a $20m injection into the Alice Springs economy, which is fantastic. That is why we worked so hard to reinvigorate the games for 2014.
It was great to see the games hub return to the centre of town. It drew more people right into the heart and centre of the CBD. This year there was a number of new initiatives government introduced which were a big hit. Thousands of people gathered under what were the sails in the centre of the mall to watch the big screen. We had daily highlights, with a daily wrap broadcast of all events.
More than 45 000 people were reached by the official Masters Games Facebook page. Some 4000 people read the daily games newspaper, The Friendly Times. It was fantastic.
The opening and closing ceremonies were a smashing success. We had Neil Diamond and the Beatles – or at least it was the Neil Diamond show, and the Beatnix were there – as well as Chocolate Starfish, among others – a huge couple of nights of entertainment. On the field, the games were a huge success. The competition is just as important; we had 110 records broken this year, 90 of those in the pool, with some of our Masters Games competitors doing tremendous stuff.
Seventeen of the 32 sports also increased participant numbers this year. It is a great story. The final participant numbers for the games for 2014 were a little over 3800, which puts us a smidge over the games of 2012. When you look at the market of the games, the space is so cluttered around Australia these days; it is a testament to Alice Springs that it is a drawcard, not only as a visitor and holiday destination, but as a host for the Masters Games.
One of the great stories coming out of the games was the camaraderie and friendship. Two Tasmanian visitors, in town for the basketball, marked the event by getting married.
Mr Wood interjecting.
Mr CONLAN: I will say that again, member for Nelson, as you might be interested in this because it is a wonderful story. Two Tasmanian visitors, in town for the basketball, chose to get married in Alice Springs during the games, with one of the ambassadors acting as a celebrant. It was a fantastic event, with camaraderie and friendship, and we look forward to seeing you again for the 2016 games.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
Mr ELFERINK (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016