Page 673 - Week 03 - Tuesday, 12 April 1994
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MINISTER FOR SPORT
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTION
QUESTION NO 1158
Australia Day Sports Carnival.
Mr Westende - asked the Minister for Sport
(1) Why is the Australia Day Sports Carnival held for a period of one month in January, even though it is not linked to the Australia Day celebrations.
(2) Why does the Australia Day Sports Carnival use the Australia Day logo, even though it is not linked with the Australia Day celebrations.
(3) Does the Australia Day Sports Carnival come under the auspices of the National Australia Day Organisation; if not, (a) why is it a recipient, as an Australia Day event, of a grant from the Government and (b) what is the basis of the grant.
Mr Berry - the answer to the Members question is as follows:
(1) The Australia Day Sports Carnival grew rapidly from its commencement in 1980 from a sporting event held over the Australia Day weekend holiday period to an event involving. some 44 events conducted by 36 sporting bodies over the whole of January. I understand that from its inception it was linked with the Australia Day Council: At the request of organising sports and with the endorsement of the Australia Day Council a separate Carnival Organising Committee was established and incorporated in September 1984. From its inception the Carnival has been an integral and fitting part of Canberras celebration of Australia Day, even though it is now a-separate event.
It provides considerable tourism and economic benefits to the ACT and sports have sought to hold events when it was best for the individual sport over the January period, which is traditionally quiet for the ACT tourism industry. This has become more of a consideration for a successful carnival since the ACT and the other States have moved official observance of Australia Day from a long weekend to 26 January. Sports are encouraged to hold events as close to the 26 January as possible.
(2) The Australia Day Sports Carnival uses the Australia Day logo as it was originally established as part of the Australia Day celebrations by the Canberra Australia Day Council. It is thus identified with the Australia Day celebrations in Canberra.
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