Hansard debates

Mrs McARTHUR (Western Victoria) (18:17): My adjournment matter is for the Premier. It relates to the complete decimation of the Victorian events industry by his government’s ministers and health advisers. Victoria used to be the event capital of Australia. With more than 120 000 events worth over $12 billion, we led the nation, yet now that title and the countless businesses and livelihoods which depended on it have gone north to New South Wales. The explanation is simple: we have all suffered from COVID, but the responses of the state governments have been poles apart. I will quote from a media release yesterday from the excellent Save Victorian Events group:

Victoria

Maximum event capacity of 75 people indoors or 150 people outdoors. Still no roadmap for the further lifting of restrictions.

Here is the contrast:

New South Wales

“If you are planning to go to an organised event … Those events should proceed.

“Because all major events, all outdoor events, all events have good … safety plans.

“So we don’t want anyone to cancel any events. We don’t want anyone to cancel any of those organised ticketed events in particular.

“Just make sure that whether you are the organiser of the event or you are someone that is attending that you stick to those recommendations that we’ve given you. Stick to the good Covid safety plans.

“Those safety plans have worked for us in New South Wales. We don’t want people panicking.”

That is a quote from Gladys Berejiklian, the Premier of New South Wales.

So the action I seek from the Premier is for a new approach to be taken by his government, one which swallows its pride and recognises that we do not always operate the gold standard in this state. Now is the time for Victoria to recognise that health outcomes are not the only thing that matters and that life as a whole depends on mature and responsible government decisions which weigh up all considerations. The Save Victorian Events release concludes:

We need a Premier who is actively and passionately advocating for events to happen and to keep happening. Who is giving the market confidence.

We need a Health Department that trusts the Covid Safe plans they approve to work. Events are very highly controlled environments and the Event Industry are experts in managing complex risks.

We need a Health Department that works with the Event Industry—and not just with sport—to get events happening again safely!