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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 5 Hansard (9 May) . . Page.. 1436 ..

MS MacDONALD (continuing):

More immediate for the Canberra public, though, is the chance to snare some very important tourism dollars. Canberra will be showcased to the sporting world. 1.7 million spectators and well over three billion TV viewers watched the 1999 world cup-hence the IRB's desperate eagerness to control the commercial and advertising aspects of grounds and sponsorships. The immediate and direct advertising dollar will not go direct to the ACT. However, there are opportunities for us to seize Canberra's share of that three billion plus people TV audience. We are the nation's capital and the Wallabies, as defending champions, are sure to attract massive TV audiences. Usual exposures on the venues would see Canberra and the region promoted to a world audience. The potential to promote Canberra as a desirable tourist destination must not be led to slip through our fingers. The importance of the tourist dollar to the ACT cannot be underestimated.

I know that Mr Quinlan has led a strong bid for the ACT through negotiations with the ARU to hold pool games in the 2003 rugby world cup at Canberra Stadium. There has been strong competition from a number of states, including non-traditional rugby states, to host matches. The ACT's bid has been based on an objective budgeting process. This is another clear example of the Stanhope government's commitment to building jobs, particularly in the tourist industry in the post-Ansett environment.

No other national capital has failed to play host to the national team during previous world cups-except Canberra in the very first world cup in 1987. Other hosts and co-hosts since have had that privilege. Paris, London, Wellington, Edinburgh, Dublin, Cape Town and Cardiff have all had their national team play during the world cup. The oversight in 1987 to give Canberra a game can be rectified in 2003. Many things have changed since in 1987. As I have outlined, we now have a provincial team, our facilities have improved and, of course, there are now four preliminary games, not three.

The Canberra public is not being greedy. We are not expecting to have a final, nor host all Wallaby games. We do think, though, that for all the sensible reasons that I have outlined, a single preliminary Wallabies game in Canberra is reasonable, sensible and right.

The Canberra region will support the game. I know this because I have been contacted by people from Canberra, Queanbeyan, Yass, Wagga and as far away as the South Coast and Albury, all expressing support for a Canberra Wallaby game. A game in October or November during the world cup tournament will be a sellout. I hope to see broad support for my endeavours from other members in the Assembly and urge them to assist with my "Wanna see a Wallaby" campaign as they see fit. The important tourism dollars will help our bottom line and every dollar that is able to be attracted to Canberra will help overcome the economic mess inherited from the last government.

Logistical problems of organising tour packages, accommodation, games, schedules et cetera will be easily overcome as there is over a year till the tournament kick-off. There is no real reason that Canberra cannot share a preliminary Wallabies game with Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

I just hope that the stunts that we have seen over the last two days of question time will not provide ammunition for those that wish to not have a Wallaby game in Canberra. I hope that Mr Pratt and Mrs Dunne are two of the first to support this MPI. If they can

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