PETITION Wednesday, 18 May 1994 COUNCIL 573 Wednesday, 18 May 1994 Western Metropolitan College of T AFE - Report, 1993 [incorporating the report of the Flagstaff College of TAFE for the period 1 January 1993 to 30 June 1993). Wimrnera Community College of TAFE - Report, 1993. The PRESIDENT (Hon. B. A. Chamberlain) took the chair at 10.03 a.m. and read the prayer. Wodonga College of T AFE - Report, 1993. PETITION GRANDPRIX Sexual discrimination Hon. B. T. PULLEN (Melbourne) - I move: Hon. J. V. C. GUEST (Monash) presented a petition That this house condemns the government for its from certain citizens of Victoria praying that the failure, in relation to staging the Melbourne grand prix, Equal Opportunity Act 1984 be amended to to: prohibit discrimination on the grounds of a person's sexuality. (84 signatures) (a) consult with the community; (b) disclose all financial and economic implications; Laid on table. (c) control the activities of the Chairman of Melbourne PUBLIC ACCOUNTS AND ESTIMATES Major Events Company Ltd, Mr Ron Walker; and COMMITTEE (d) consider safer, more environmentally suitable sites than Albert Park and its surrounding parklands, Public hospitals: contracted doctors And calls upon the government to hold a public Hon. P. R. HALL (Gippsland) presented report of inquiry into all aspects of the proposal, including the Public Accounts and Estimates Committee on examination of alternative sites. Victorian public hospitals - arrangements with contracted doctors, together with appendices and I quote: minutes of evidence. Car racing has its place among modem sports but it Laid on table. belongs on its own speed tracks and in areas where its din is not likely to be a public nuisance. Ordered that report and appendices be printed. This is not from articles in recent papers but a quote PAPERS in the Herald editorial of 5 November 1958 about previous attempts to use a track at Albert Park for Laid on table by Clerk: motor racing. The same edition of that paper reports that it is: Broadmeadows College of T AFE - Report, 1993. ... fantastic that Albert Park can be closed to the public Dandenong College of TAFE - Report, 1993 (two for, of all things, the holding of motor races. A more papers). incongruous place could not be found nor could there be a more obvious disregard of the rights of the public. East Gippsland Community College of T AFE - You might as well have trap shooting in the Fitzroy Report, 1993. Gardens and charge admittance. Goulburn Valley Community College -Report, 1993. There is much history about this piece of ground. It goes back to 1862 where it was described as a Moorabbin College of T AFE - Report, 1993. low-lying piece of land, marshy in parts with a salt lagoon. Shortly after settlement, adjacent bodies, Outer Eastern College of T AFE - Report, 1993. including the Corporation of Melbourne, became interested in it as a park. In 1862 by an order in South West College of T AFE - Report, 1993. council some 950 acres were named Albert Park, in honour of the prince consort at the time, and were temporarily reserved. Since then the area has been progressively reserved as a park. It has existed for GRAND PR IX 574 COUNCIL Wednesday. 18 May 1994 130 years in the minds of Melburnians as a place of raise your head and say something the Premier will refuge and an important city park. immediately accuse you of being anti-Victorian and against progress, the people were not deterred by On Sunday approximately 10 000 people attended this government's method of dealing with dissent. Albert Park to express their belief in the value of They are not fooled and they are clear in their parks for Melbourne. That group of people was criticism. They are not necessarily opposed in incredibly diverse. I have attended a number of principle to the idea of the grand prix and they demonstrations, including demonstrations against respect the right of people to enjoy motor racing. In freeways, which involved large gatherings of people that sense there was no prejudiced opposition to the expressing their opposition to or views about a event; it was simply that they think they should particular subject. However, I have never been have been consulted and that it would be among such a united group of people that was so inappropriate to stage the event in this area. angry about an issue and that showed such obvious individual interest as I was on Sunday. Many people It has not been demonstrated that Albert Park is the who attended had prepared their own placards, appropriate location for the grand prix. Many worked out their own slogans and expressed their people regard the race as incompatible with the views in individual ways. general enjoyment of Albert Park and think the arrangements necessary to the event will disfigure Honourable members interjecting. the park. Hon. B. T. PULLEN - Obviously honourable Hon. Louise Asher - How do they know? They members opposite do not consider that to be haven't seen the plans! important. They do not think it is important that 10000 residents of Melbourne love their parks Hon. B. T. PULLEN - They do not know sufficiently well to attend a demonstration in such because they have not been informed by the numbers. The group comprised people of all age government. They believe it will limit the park's groups and from all parts of Melbourne. During the future development and that the future of the park is day I had the opportunity to speak to many of them. being sacrificed for one event. There is a strong feeling that considerable public expense will be Hon. Louise Asher - Too bad they did not let involved which they will have to pay, probably the Premier speak to them! through additional taxes and charges, the $100 levy or cuts in community services, and that the An Honourable Member - Too bad you were government is willing to spend money to stage a not there! race but not to maintain or build schools and kindergartens and provide an adequa te ambulance Hon. B. T. PULLEN - Many of them had a lot to service. say about the Premier and made it clear that they understood the issue well. Those well-informed Honourable members interjecting. people wanted to show that they did not intend to let the government and the Premier trade off one of The PRESIDENT - Order! It is extraordinarily their assets for what is essentially a publicity stunt. difficult for Mr Pullen to put his case to the house Many said they do not necessarily oppose the grand when two members from his side are conversing prix but are concerned about the location, the impact with two members from the government side. It is the event would have on the area and the lack of hopeless. Let us hear Mr Pull en in silence. public consultation. They were ordinary people from various age groups. Some were in wheelchairs Hon. B. T. PULLEN - People have made the and some were more than 60 years of age, but they clear connection that the government is prepared to had made the effort to attend because they had spend money on this event but not on schools or the grown up in Albert Park and remembered it from ambulance service. They can see where the their youth. However, this coalition government government's priorities lie. Although people have does not heed people's values. not been informed about the economic implications of the project they are aware that every year the The local member did not attend because she South Australian government lost on the grand prix considers it to be a laughing matter and does not a total amounting to an estimated $30 million to think those people are worth listening to. I do, and $70 million and that the Indy race in Brisbane also so do many others. Although they know that if you loses money. However, we are told the grand prix GRANDPRIX Wednesday, 18 May 1994 COUNCIL 575 will benefit Melbourne. It is clear that people not a cost-effective way of creating employment. The understand the financial aspect of this plan. event has been surrounded by extreme secrecy. Mr Ron Walker has been quoted as saying that Honourable members interjecting. nobody will ever know how much he paid and that it will remain secret forever. When pressed The PRESIDENT - Order! I ask Mr Forwood Mr Walker said he had no comment. He said he had and Mr White to desist from interjecting. It is unfair signed a confidential agreement and that is why to the speaker for them to continue with their Mr Ecclestone was not able to offer Adelaide an interjections. Please contain yourselves. extension of its contract. However, it will never be known. It is an easy deal for Ron Walker because he Hon. B. T. PULLEN - People have not been is not spending his money. He is spending public persuaded that the event will be of financial benefit money, but the profits accrue to him because he is to the people of Melbourne; they believe it will lose involved in the running of Crown Casino money. People are suspicious that it will be Corporation. He will receive a direct benefit as a expenditure of public money for private gain and result of the influx of visitors. It is not a matter of see Mr Ron Walker, who has a prominent interest in him making an investment and obtaining a return. Crown Casino Ltd, as one who will benefit from the He is involved in approved public expenditure and influx of visitors.