Mrs BRAHAM - 1995-05-24
As the minister is aware, Alice Springs derives considerable benefits from the Honda Masters Games. Can the minister advise whether he has plans to establish any other major events that might create further financial benefits to the community of Alice Springs?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, we have some exciting plans for Alice Springs. With the success of the Honda Masters Games, which injects more than $6m into the Alice Springs economy, the government, particularly the Department of Sport and Recreation, thought it most appropriate to look at establishing other ongoing events for the central Australian region. I am pleased to say that Cabinet has given approval for a major indoor recreational tournament which will be held in Alice Springs biennially commencing in January 1996. The tournament is expected to attract at least 500 participants, but possibly many more, during the off-peak tourist season for Alice Springs. It will incorporate a range of Australia's favourite indoor games, including chess, bridge, Scrabble, backgammon, five hundred, euchre, cribbage and poker. I understand that this is the first event of its kind in Australia, and I should point out that a highlight of the inaugural tournament will be the hosting of the annual Australian Scrabble Championship.
Lasseters Hotel Casino will be the major sponsor, and the tournament will be called Lasseters Indoor Challenge. We have secured several other major sponsors, including Qantas, AAT Kings, Carlton United Breweries and QUF. Many other businesses, including licensed clubs, have indicated that they too are keen to provide sponsorship, and the Northern Territory Tourist Commission will help to promote the event. Total sponsorship to date is over $75 000, and the department has earmarked $125 000 from its 1995-96 budget for sport and recreation.
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The concept of Lasseters Indoor Challenge originated following the success of the Honda Masters Games last year. The question arose as to whether another recreational or sporting event could be established, during the Alice Springs summer and off-peak tourist season, that would provide benefits similar to those that accrued to the local community through the Honda Masters Games. As a result, the indoor challenge, which will be held from 13 to 20 January, will have all the recognised attributes of the Honda Masters Games. Its focus will be to attract social players in addition to elite competition. Who knows, we might manage to tempt Kerry Packer to attend for a game of poker. No doubt, the casino would be happy to do without him after he picked up $26m a few days ago in Las Vegas.
A committee was established in November 1994 to develop the concept of the tournament. It consists of representatives from the Department of Sport and Recreation, Qantas and Alice Springs club managers. The tournament will be held at modern air-conditioned clubs during the day, while appropriate outdoor attractions and social activities will be emphasised during what will be, at that time of the year no doubt, the warm evenings.
The event will provide a business opportunity, particularly for Alice Springs clubs and tourism operators, with associated benefits flowing to retailers and restaurants. The department will provide support in the form of promotion, liaison with sponsors, registration and general oversight of the tournament. With many Alice Springs businesses already enthusiastically supporting this event, I am sure that it will become another success story for my local community. I am sure too that the tournament will grow. The Honda Masters Games started with only 1000 competitors but, by the fifth games held last year, we had almost 4500 competitors. Like the Honda Masters Games, which are competitive but have a wonderfully friendly atmosphere, we hope that Lasseters Indoor Challenge will make the biennial social calendar of all indoor games enthusiasts.
Page 583
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, we have some exciting plans for Alice Springs. With the success of the Honda Masters Games, which injects more than $6m into the Alice Springs economy, the government, particularly the Department of Sport and Recreation, thought it most appropriate to look at establishing other ongoing events for the central Australian region. I am pleased to say that Cabinet has given approval for a major indoor recreational tournament which will be held in Alice Springs biennially commencing in January 1996. The tournament is expected to attract at least 500 participants, but possibly many more, during the off-peak tourist season for Alice Springs. It will incorporate a range of Australia's favourite indoor games, including chess, bridge, Scrabble, backgammon, five hundred, euchre, cribbage and poker. I understand that this is the first event of its kind in Australia, and I should point out that a highlight of the inaugural tournament will be the hosting of the annual Australian Scrabble Championship.
Lasseters Hotel Casino will be the major sponsor, and the tournament will be called Lasseters Indoor Challenge. We have secured several other major sponsors, including Qantas, AAT Kings, Carlton United Breweries and QUF. Many other businesses, including licensed clubs, have indicated that they too are keen to provide sponsorship, and the Northern Territory Tourist Commission will help to promote the event. Total sponsorship to date is over $75 000, and the department has earmarked $125 000 from its 1995-96 budget for sport and recreation.
Page 582
The concept of Lasseters Indoor Challenge originated following the success of the Honda Masters Games last year. The question arose as to whether another recreational or sporting event could be established, during the Alice Springs summer and off-peak tourist season, that would provide benefits similar to those that accrued to the local community through the Honda Masters Games. As a result, the indoor challenge, which will be held from 13 to 20 January, will have all the recognised attributes of the Honda Masters Games. Its focus will be to attract social players in addition to elite competition. Who knows, we might manage to tempt Kerry Packer to attend for a game of poker. No doubt, the casino would be happy to do without him after he picked up $26m a few days ago in Las Vegas.
A committee was established in November 1994 to develop the concept of the tournament. It consists of representatives from the Department of Sport and Recreation, Qantas and Alice Springs club managers. The tournament will be held at modern air-conditioned clubs during the day, while appropriate outdoor attractions and social activities will be emphasised during what will be, at that time of the year no doubt, the warm evenings.
The event will provide a business opportunity, particularly for Alice Springs clubs and tourism operators, with associated benefits flowing to retailers and restaurants. The department will provide support in the form of promotion, liaison with sponsors, registration and general oversight of the tournament. With many Alice Springs businesses already enthusiastically supporting this event, I am sure that it will become another success story for my local community. I am sure too that the tournament will grow. The Honda Masters Games started with only 1000 competitors but, by the fifth games held last year, we had almost 4500 competitors. Like the Honda Masters Games, which are competitive but have a wonderfully friendly atmosphere, we hope that Lasseters Indoor Challenge will make the biennial social calendar of all indoor games enthusiasts.
Page 583
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016