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House of Assembly - Fifty-First Parliament, Second Session (51-2)
2007-11-20 Daily Xml
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VICTORIA PARK REDEVELOPMENT

Mr PENGILLY (Finniss) (14:57): My question is to the Treasurer. If the project to build the grandstand at Victoria Park does not succeed, will the status of the Clipsal 500 car race as the nation's premier V8 event be at risk? There is speculation that, if Melbourne loses the Formula One Grand Prix, its fixed facilities may become home to a reinvigorated V8 supercar championship.

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY (Port Adelaide—Deputy Premier, Treasurer, Minister for Industry and Trade, Minister for Federal/State Relations) (14:58): I like it when opposition members say words to the effect that there is speculation, but which means 'I made this question up before I came into question time.' Next year, we have the 10th anniversary of the Clipsal 500. It is a very good initiative of the former Liberal government under John Olsen to get the first few races, and I would argue also that it has been a very good period under this government as we have grown the Clipsal into the truly international event that it is today.

Mr Hamilton-Smith: So far.

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: Thank you. I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his constructive input.

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: Thank you. There is no doubt that we need to make a decision on new infrastructure. The government has had a proposal for fixed infrastructure—

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: It is funny that they say they are with me, because I can remember the last Liberal government attempting to put a fixed facility in the Parklands and that got nowhere, when members opposite—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: —were not prepared to bring the project forward.

Mr Williams: You did not support one project.

The SPEAKER: The member for MacKillop will come to order!

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: Oh, you are such a negative person. When we were in opposition, we were the most supportive opposition of a government that this state had ever seen.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: We were—

An honourable member interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: Ninety per cent. I heard the Premier say on many occasions, opposition leader: that more than 90 per cent of initiatives were put forward. I will not allow my good name to be trampled by those suggesting that I was a negative, whingeing opposition member.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The Deputy Premier has the call.

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: Yes, he probably has. Well, I think I have. As you would recall, sir, I was a very constructive member of a constructive opposition. The Clipsal 500 is the most pre-eminent touring car event not just in Australia but, according to Murray Walker, in the world. Modesty prohibits me from going on too much about my personal involvement in making this the greatest motorsport event in the world, because—

Mr Hamilton-Smith: You are a petrolhead.

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: Yes, we are petrolheads. I am not going to brag about my great love of motorsport and my great input into the race, because it isn't much, actually. Roger Cook, Andrew Daniels and the board can take all the credit.

Mr Hamilton-Smith interjecting:

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: Pardon?

Mr Hamilton-Smith interjecting:

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: You think? Really? I quite like that.

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: Ah, that's it. I have even forgotten what the question was.

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