Labor leader Peter Malinauskas flies to Sydney to fight for Superloop 500
A Labor Government would strike a deal to revive the Superloop 500, the Opposition leader says as he jets to Sydney for crisis talks.
SA News
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Opposition Leader Peter Malinauskas will fly to Sydney today for crisis talks over the V8 Supercars race in Adelaide.
Mr Malinauskas will meet with the organisation’s management to commit to returning the event to city streets if he wins the election in 2022.
His flying visit follows public statements by Premier Steven Marshall at the weekend that the decision to axe the race – held since 1999 – would not be reversed.
Mr Marshall said he had based the “tough” decision on falling numbers, rising costs and declining patronage.
It is understood V8 Supercars was given little warning that the event had been scrapped by Mr Marshall and the SA Tourism Commission.
Mr Malinauskas said he had spoken regularly to V8 Supercars chief executive Sean Seamer since the decision was announced by Mr Marshall last Thursday.
“They are incredibly disappointed this iconic event has been cancelled by Steven Marshall,” he said.
“Clearly what is on the agenda for our meeting is what can be done to bring the race back to Adelaide if Labor wins the next election.”
Mr Malinauskas said the three-day event was a critical economic driver for the state, especially hospitality, the industry sector worst hit by the coronavirus pandemic.
But the State Government has said the event’s economic benefit dropped from $45.9m in 2019 to $38m last year.
“This event is the single biggest attractor of interstate visitation to our hospitality providers,” Mr Malinauskas said. “Why you would scrap it at this time, when they are on their knees, beggars belief.”
Mr Malinauskas said he disputed figures released by Mr Marshall which showed the economic activity generated by the V8 race had declined.
“His own figures show that it creates 400 full-time jobs,” he said.
“That’s more people than who were employed at the WestEnd brewery and 20 times more people than those working at the Space Agency.”
Mr Malinauskas said attendance at February’s event had dropped because there had not been enough investment in post-race entertainment, which typically had featured big-name acts over the years.
“We know the profile of the entertainment can have a big impact on ticket sales,” he said.
“Last year, more than 200,000 motorsport fans attended over the three days.
“Of those, 15,000 were from interstate or overseas. Our view is that Supercars remain a very popular sport, with a very big following throughout this state and elsewhere.
“Adelaide always has been well-positioned as an icon of motorsport and we believe it will continue to bring economic benefits to the state,” he said. “That is why the V8 Supercars race in Adelaide is worthy of preservation.”
A V8 Supercars spokesman declined to comment before Mr Seamer met with Mr Malinauskas in North Sydney.