AUSTRALIAN SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS

Mr SIBBONS (Mitchell) (14:13): My question is also to the Premier. Can the Premier advise the house about the 2012 Australian Swimming Championships?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier, Minister for State Development) (14:13): Madam Speaker, I can rule out one rumour: I will not be in speedos at the poolside making an appearance—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: Today we see the start of the biggest swimming event Adelaide has ever hosted, with some of the best swimmers in the world racing right on our doorstep in this Olympic year, and it is appropriate that this event is being held at what is now one of the premier swimming facilities in Australia.

In addition to this event, the South Australian Aquatic and Leisure Centre is also hosting the 2013 Australian Swimming Championships, which will act as selection trials for the FINA World Championships and the 2013 Australian Age Swimming Championships. This is the first time since the 1997 Pan Pacific trials that Adelaide has hosted a swimming event of this calibre, and it is a strong vote of confidence in the state-of-the-art facility which was opened in April last year.

A record number of swimmers have registered to compete, with 834 athletes competing for Olympic and Paralympic nomination over the eight-day event. Those competing include Stephanie Rice, Blair Evans, Ian Thorpe, Michael Klim and Libby Trickett, with local swimmers aiming for selection, including Matt Cowdrey, Hayden Stoeckel, Ester Overton and Jay Dohnt. Ian Thorpe will contest the 200 metre freestyle tomorrow, while world record holding and multiple Olympic gold medallist Libby Trickett will be in action tonight in the women's 100 metre butterfly.

Swimming Australia has calculated that the economic benefit to the state for hosting this championship is in the order of $9 million, with more than 1,800 athletes, coaches, support staff and spectators visiting from interstate. The event will be televised across the nation and internationally, with more than 100 media accredited for the event, including the UK, Brazil and the Middle East network Al Jazeera.

Hitaf Rasheed and the team at Events SA should be commended for the work that they have done in bringing this event to its successful culmination. While over 17,000 tickets have already been sold, there are still tickets available. This is a great opportunity for South Australians to get in and see the best swimmers in the world, right on the doorstep of an Olympic year. It is great to have a first-class pool, which will be adding to our first-class hospital, our first-class airport, our first-class—

The Hon. P.F. Conlon: Our two-way freeway.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: Our two-way freeway, and our first-class stadium. I know there are those of us who want to hold us back and there are those of us who want to keep looking backwards, but we are looking forward to a bright future in this state.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!