Mr WARREN - 2008-02-12
It is with great pleasure and pride that I ask the minister for Sport his first question in parliament. For someone who is passionate about your portfolio, can you tell the House what exciting news you have for cricket fans in the Northern Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Goyder. I know he is a big lover and fan of cricket. I have some great news for Territorians. Today, I was pleased to meet with Mike Brown from Cricket Australia and Andrew Ramsay from NT Cricket. Through negotiations that we have had for some time now, we have managed to deliver a fantastic deal which will not only benefit grassroots cricket for all Territorians but also deliver international cricket matches. That new deal that has been agreed on will deliver five years of international cricket to the Territory, which is fantastic news. Local cricket will be able to use these facilities. That means a total commitment of $3.1m, with $2.1m from the Northern Territory government, which is a fantastic commitment by this government to local and international cricket. Cricket Australia will deliver $1m on top of that.
Mike Brown, head of Cricket Australia, was a fantastic individual to work with over the last few weeks and months, and he has assured me that the number one Australian cricket team, which will include Ricky Ponting, Andrew Symonds, Brett Lee, etcetera, will arrive on 31 August to play against Bangladesh in three One Day Internationals. There is no doubt this will happen. The reason behind this is that this will be a lead-up to one of the major global events later on in the year, and they will use this competition in Darwin as a test run.
The new five-year deal is exciting for the Top End and I cannot wait to see Marrara once again filled in anticipation of international cricket. The final part of this agreement will see $100 000 for upgrade of nets and practice pitches and facilities for international teams, plus local teams, to train and warm up. We will also see the magnificent Gardens Oval ground which, as all long-term, born and bred Territorians know, is the traditional home of sport. I look forward to seeing Ricky Ponting facing me bowling at him. The Northern Territory government has not only assured Territorians that international cricket will be played in Darwin, but the local populace will benefit from that five-year agreement.
My colleagues who have allowed me to make this announcement have reassured the local cricket fraternity that we support international cricket and grassroots cricket. There is no doubt, there are some big announcements over the next few weeks and months, if not years, as to what international cricket games will come to the Northern Territory. I believe that we are in for bigger and better things.
I thank again, on record, Andrew Ramsay from NT Cricket and Mike Brown from Cricket Australia and all the people who came together to make this happen. It is a wonderful event and I look forward to everyone supporting it in August.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Goyder. I know he is a big lover and fan of cricket. I have some great news for Territorians. Today, I was pleased to meet with Mike Brown from Cricket Australia and Andrew Ramsay from NT Cricket. Through negotiations that we have had for some time now, we have managed to deliver a fantastic deal which will not only benefit grassroots cricket for all Territorians but also deliver international cricket matches. That new deal that has been agreed on will deliver five years of international cricket to the Territory, which is fantastic news. Local cricket will be able to use these facilities. That means a total commitment of $3.1m, with $2.1m from the Northern Territory government, which is a fantastic commitment by this government to local and international cricket. Cricket Australia will deliver $1m on top of that.
Mike Brown, head of Cricket Australia, was a fantastic individual to work with over the last few weeks and months, and he has assured me that the number one Australian cricket team, which will include Ricky Ponting, Andrew Symonds, Brett Lee, etcetera, will arrive on 31 August to play against Bangladesh in three One Day Internationals. There is no doubt this will happen. The reason behind this is that this will be a lead-up to one of the major global events later on in the year, and they will use this competition in Darwin as a test run.
The new five-year deal is exciting for the Top End and I cannot wait to see Marrara once again filled in anticipation of international cricket. The final part of this agreement will see $100 000 for upgrade of nets and practice pitches and facilities for international teams, plus local teams, to train and warm up. We will also see the magnificent Gardens Oval ground which, as all long-term, born and bred Territorians know, is the traditional home of sport. I look forward to seeing Ricky Ponting facing me bowling at him. The Northern Territory government has not only assured Territorians that international cricket will be played in Darwin, but the local populace will benefit from that five-year agreement.
My colleagues who have allowed me to make this announcement have reassured the local cricket fraternity that we support international cricket and grassroots cricket. There is no doubt, there are some big announcements over the next few weeks and months, if not years, as to what international cricket games will come to the Northern Territory. I believe that we are in for bigger and better things.
I thank again, on record, Andrew Ramsay from NT Cricket and Mike Brown from Cricket Australia and all the people who came together to make this happen. It is a wonderful event and I look forward to everyone supporting it in August.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016