Moves to Rename Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium to Lang Park in Legislation

• OCTOBER 15 2016 Moves to rename Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium to Lang Park in legislation Felicity Caldwell The name "Lang Park" strikes fear into the hea1is of southerners and should be resunected, the LNP has argued. The Queensland Opposition plans to move an amendment to rename Suncorp Stadium from "Brisbane Stadium" to "Lang Park" in a bill before the House. Lang Park was established in 1914, named after John Dunmore Lang - a minister and politician - and renamed Suncorp Stadium in 1994. On Thursday night, as paii of debate on the Major Sp01is Facilities and Other Legislation Amendment Bill, member for Beaudesert Jon Krause said he would move an amendment to change the name to Lang Park within the legislation. Mr Krause said most Queenslanders would support the name change for the "spiritual home of mgby league in Queensland". "I know that most members of this House who have grown up knowing this stadium as Lang Park, and enjoying rngby league there over the last decades, would support this amendment being moved in consideration in detail," Mr Krause said. "If we took a straw poll of Queens landers I dare say most people would agree with that." Member for Glass House Andrew Powell, who grew up in NSW, said he remembered the fear the words "Lang Park" instilled in Cockroach supporters in Sydney at the time. A statue of Wally Lewis which stands outside Sunsorp Stadium, or Lang Park as traditionalists call it. Photo: Cameron Spencer "It still does," he said. "I think we should take any opp01iunity we have here in Queensland to ram that down any supp01ier of the NSW rngby league team or any other sporting code that uses that facility," Mr Powell said. "My family and I are keen fans of the round ball game and we are big fans of Brisbane Roar, and I also want a similar fear to be instilled in any visiting team that comes to Lang Park." Member for Whitsunday Jason Costigan said Queenslanders loved the old "Lang Park". He paid tribute to former Maroons player Terry Butler, who died from lung cancer, with his funeral held in Townsville on Thursday. "I am sure if Terry Butler was looking down on us tonight along with other former Origin greats who have passed on such as the late Peter Jackson; the 'angry ant', Ross Henrick; and of course we could look no further than the legendary Arthur Beetson, they would be expecting us in this chamber tonight to say, 'You know what? That bloke from Beaudesert has got it right," Mr Costigan said. Member for Indooroopilly Scott Emerson also welcomed the move to "resurrect the name Lang Park". "We all grew up in Queensland hearing that name," he said. "To see it brought back, at least in legislation before the Queensland Parliament, I think is a fine move by the shadow minister." The bill includes proposals to amend the way tax is calculated under the Gaming Machine Act 1991, allow Keno licensees to enter into jackpot pooling arrangements with licensees in other jurisdictions, and changes for declaration of event periods at sport facilities to protect them from unauthotised advertising. Debate on the bill was adjourned on Thursday night. Parliament will next sit on November 1. The proposed amendment would affect the way Suncorp Stadium is referred to in the legislation but not the stadium's naming rights. Poll Is Brisbane's premier rngby league venue in need of a name change? • Go back to Lang Park80% • Call it Suncorp Stadiuml2% • Brisbane Stadium would do4% • Rename it for Wally Lewis4% • Total votes: 2515 Poll closed 16 Oct, 2016 Disclaimer: These polls are not scientific and reflect the opinion only of visitors who have chosen to participate. .

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