Melbourne Prize: big prize or bigger fools

The Victorian Labor government and the Australian Grand Prix Organisation claim there are economic benefits of continuing to host the grand prix in Melbourne. We all accept the spin.

According to Greg Baum: "When it comes to fake news, the Grand Prix Corporation makes Donald Trump look like an apprentice." Take for example the recent media release spruiking the car race. The Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events, Steve Dimopoulos, stated: "the event is an epic boost for local jobs, visitation and our economy". This is simply not true.

The grand prix is a financial car crash for Victoria, as demonstrated by independent cost-benefit analyses by Victorian Auditor General, and Rod Campbell.Even Bernie Ecclestone, the man who negotiated the deal in the first place, agrees the grand prix is ripping offVictorians.

Victorian taxpayers have so far paid $1 billion. And the bill keeps growing. The grand prix is now costing Victorians more than $100 million each year.

In 2023, for example, the race generated $97 million in revenue but cost $198 million to stage. This is not an economic 'boost' for our state. Instead it is a drain on resources that could have been spent on health, education and public transport.

Rather than cost-benefit analyses, the Victorian government continues to commission its consultants (EY) to undertake confidential economic 'impact studies'. These 'impact studies' conveniently ignore the costs.

Professor John Quiggin is among many economists who dispute the claims made in government's economic 'impact' studies. He argued that we would be better off if the Victorian government gave free return flights to cover the claimed 8,800 international and 72,000 interstate grand prix visitors than wasting $100 million every year on this event. He alleges, rather than watching a car race, visitors on this 'freebies scheme' would actually create an economic bonanza for businesses.

As for numbers who attend the race: It is nowhere near the number that the corporation and the state government routinely claim. In 2011, Jeff Kennett claimed "[The grand prix] was watched last weekend by 500 million people in 110 countries". Again, this was not true. Rather than cite the number of people who specifically watched the Australian Grand Prix, he misled people by citing the numbers who tuned it to watch the entire F1 season. Exaggerating the numbers allowed the government to exaggerate the benefits of hosting the car race, such as showcasing Melbourne to the world.

Over 10 years later, we still don't know exactly how many people attend or watch the car race. The Australian Grand Prix Organisation refuses to release precise crowd figures claiming scanning all tickets poses a "national security risk". Is anyone buying this nonsense?

Certainly not the Office of the VictorianInformation Commissioner– they ordered the Grand Prix Corporation to hand over internal working documents on how the number of attendees at the event are calculated. In response, the Corporation is taking Save Albert Park to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT). It has hired lawyers at taxpayers' expense to ensure the truth remains hidden.

How long can Victorian government continue to treat the public with such disdain?

In the early days of the grand prix, the circuit signage advertised Melbourne. It was an opportunity to show our beautiful city to the world. This signage has since been largely replaced – as it has with other grands prix worldwide – with advertisements for Aramco, Saudi Arabian Oil Group, and other multinational companies. Who reaps the profits from the advertising revenue? Certainly not us.

In 1999, former grand prix chairman, Ron Walker, admitted that trucking in and out the grand prix infrastructure would keep the race "in the red". Last year, that cost was around $68 million, paid by taxpayers. This year the race contract is estimated to be somewhere between $100-$150 million. This money goes straight into the pockets of Formula 1.

The grand prix also has a detrimental impact on local sporting clubs. Every year the grand prix seriously disrupts local sport for up to four months causing clubs to lose potential members, home-ground advantage and revenue.

How long can we allow the Australian Grand Prix Corporation to continue spending our money without accountability and transparency? When will the government put the brakes on this lunacy.

Our government cancelled the Commonwealth Games, blaming state debt. It indicated this decision was 'fiscally responsible'. What about 'fiscal responsibility' for the grand prix? How long will taxpayers continue to subsidise this car race? Given the current cost of living crisis – and the increasing numbers of people who are homeless - surely the Victorian government can find better ways to spend our taxes.