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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2001 Week 6 Hansard (14 June) . . Page.. 1730 ..

Mr Quinlan: On a point of order, Mr Speaker: I can't help it if Mr Smyth would not answer the question that I directed to him.

MR SPEAKER: Mr Quinlan, you have stretched the question far too far. The supplementary question is out of order.

Mr Quinlan: I will ask it tomorrow.

MR SPEAKER: You may do so, but I would suggest that you rephrase it.

V8 supercar race

MR KAINE: Mr Speaker, I will try not to stretch my question too far. I have a question for the minister for tourism in connection with the GMC400 car race. Minister, I note that the chairman of the Tourism and Events Corporation has acknowledged that the number of people who attended this year was down compared to last year. He claimed 101,000 this year as against a claim of 109,000 last year. I note in connection with that 109,000 last year that the former Chief Minister-I think it was a Mrs Carnell-admitted that in fact a total of only 50,435 tickets for last year's event had actually been sold, although they were claiming 109,000 people attended. Having that in mind, can you tell me how many one-day tickets, two-day tickets and three-day tickets were sold this year, and how does that compare with the sales last year, for which, in total, just over 50,000 tickets were sold?

MR SMYTH: Mr Speaker, there were a number of contributing factors this year, not the least the weather. CTEC is compiling the final results for the race at this stage. As soon as I have that information I will be delighted to provide it to the member, and indeed all members of this place.

MR KAINE: I have a supplementary question. Noting that this has been sold as a great tourist attraction and that the government has put something like $23 million into the event, or has promised to do so over time, can you tell us how many tickets of those sold were sold interstate? I note that last year it was just a tad over 16,000. How many was it this year? More or less?

MR SMYTH: Mr Speaker, I would be delighted to take that part of the question on notice as well. The interesting thing was the Canberra Times article on the following day which highlighted the reports from places like the War Memorial, the gallery and Old Parliament House that said they had huge attendances-

Mr Kaine: On a point of order, Mr Speaker: I did not ask about what the Canberra Times said. I asked the minister for facts.

MR SPEAKER: No, that is true. The question was not about that.

MR SMYTH: No, I have said that I will get you that detail, Mr Kaine.

MR SPEAKER: Mr Smyth, you have agreed to take the question on notice. Thank you.

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