weekly hansard - Queensland Parliament - Queensland Government

2604 Racing Venues Development Amendment Bill 23 Aug 2005
or some other harness racing event,’ or, ‘Let’s try to get the show society to move its dates.’ There has
to be a protection in there, because it might well be that the trust wants to run an event that happens
regularly. I am not sure which night it holds the greyhound racing, but let me use that as an example. Let
us say that the greyhound racing is held on a Wednesday night. The trust could say, ‘We can run a
market every Wednesday night and we should push the dogs out. They should go to another night
because we can run a market every Wednesday and we can make a certain amount of money.’
There has to be some balance between the core reason for the provision of public funds to build
that facility and ensuring that they are not overtaken by what we are doing. What we are doing today is
a clarification. It is the Governor and the Governor in Council who will be making the decisions on some
of these, if you like, extended uses for which this facility can be used. It must always be borne in mind
that the key reason for the existence of this ground is those three organisations, and those three
organisations have to be protected.
Ms CROFT (Broadwater—ALP) (4.12 pm): I have pleasure in rising to speak in support of the
Racing Venues Development Amendment Bill. The Parklands Gold Coast Trust is the only trust
constituted under the act and therefore this amendment will only affect the Parklands Gold Coast Trust.
The Parklands Gold Coast is a great entertainment facility which is capable of staging large events. The
trustees of the Parklands Gold Coast have for a number of years hired out the venue for high-profile
events such as the Big Day Out festival, which attracts approximately 55,000 people. I admit that I have
been one of those 55,000 people on several occasions and speak in great support of the minister’s
legislation today to enable the Big Day Out to continue at this great venue. The Big Day Out, as I said,
attracts so many people to the Gold Coast and ensures that our tourism remains sustainable as well. Of
course, all of those people have to stay somewhere and eat somewhere. It is great to see not only
young people supporting live music but also people from all over Australia coming to the Gold Coast to
attend the Big Day Out.
The site has also been used for the Gold Coast Show, and the Gold Coast Show kicks off next
week. I understand that last year the show attracted almost 64,000 people and this year it has a special
event happening called ‘Heroes: Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things’. There is an actionpacked
program guaranteed for all. I look forward to attending the Gold Coast Show. I know that my
Labor colleagues have a stall planned and that many of them will be making themselves available to
meet with the Gold Coast community at the Gold Coast Show. I will be looking forward to wandering
around the Gold Coast Show and visiting all of the agricultural parts of the show, and in particular I
would not miss sideshow alley at all.
Ms Keech: Plus the Queensland wine exhibit.
Ms CROFT: Looking forward to it, Minister. The minister informs me that there is also a display of
Queensland wines. That will be very interesting, and I encourage all Gold Coasters to head there and
support our Queensland wines.
The trustees have successfully, as I have mentioned, managed the venue for the benefit of the
community, generating business and tourism to the Gold Coast. Historically, in excess of 70 per cent of
the total operating income of the Parklands Gold Coast Trust has been derived from non-racing
activities such as catering, car-parking facilities, ground and pavilion rental, indoor sports centre
management fees, advertising and show society rent. I recall the days when I was at Griffith University
and always having to park at Parklands. It was the best place to park. It was the cheapest place to park
as well, so I am pleased that it is still able to supply that facility for the students at Griffith University.
Obviously these activities have been used to fund the racing facilities and to supplement the
income generated from greyhound and harness racing. The trust was originally constituted under the
Land Act 1962 and was transferred to the Racing Venues Development Act 1982 in 2003. Since
reconstitution of the trust, I understand that concerns have been held that the wording of the legislation
may inhibit the purposes for which the land had previously been used. These amendments to the act
are enabling amendments only and do not of themselves vary the purposes for which the land may be
used, but through a separate submission and approval by the Governor in Council permitted uses may
be extended.
At the time of deciding on extended permitted uses of the land, the Governor in Council will
consider the views of relevant stakeholders. This process enables the act to be applied in a consistent
yet flexible manner to ensure the views of all stakeholders may be taken into account when determining
the most appropriate permitted uses for the land. Maximising the purposes for which the Parklands Gold
Coast venue may be used will enhance the trustees’ ability to generate revenue and attract more people
to the Gold Coast and of course ensure that we have another Big Day Out for 2006. I congratulate the
minister and commend the bill to the House.
Mr LANGBROEK (Surfers Paradise—Lib) (4.14 pm): I am very pleased to rise to speak on the
Racing Venues Development Amendment Bill and, in doing so, indicate the Liberal Party’s support for
this bill. The racing industry is one of the biggest industries in Queensland and provides for the
livelihoods of thousands of Queenslanders and their families. I have been and will continue to be an
ardent supporter of the racing fraternity and the product it provides.