Aussies Say “Good On Ya Mate Go For It”

The V8 Supercars are integral to our successful annual Indy carnival on the Gold Coast. With their support this four-day event on the streets of Surfers Paradise has grown to become Queensland’s premier annual tourism event.

A recent report revealed last year’s event was worth more than $50 million to the Queensland economy.

Thousands of people from across Australia now consider the event an annual pilgrimage. It is the subject of widespread media coverage, both at home and abroad.

Obviously with any event of this scale and size, there were teething issues to deal with, not least of which was a concern from the local community about the necessary closure of a few streets for a short period.

However, our event organisers on the ground work closely with local residents to make sure that issues are worked through so that any negative impact is minimised. As a result local residents are now among the biggest fans of the annual event and they embrace it as ‘their’ event.

The Queensland Government and IMG enjoy a strong relationship as partners in the Gold Coast Motor Events Company, however the community is really the main ingredient.

With the support of the people of Auckland, I have no doubt that your V8 Supercar street race could be extremely popular and successful as well.

I congratulate Auckland on being selected as the preferred bidder and wish organisers the best of luck in the preparations.

TERRY MACKENROTH
Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister for Sport

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>