Editorial: Stadiums to boost the state’s coffers

New and improved multi-use stadiums will attract bigger and better events to NSW. The money brought to NSW as a result of that interest will generate huge boosts to our state’s tax revenue.

CRITICS of the NSW government’s program to replace and rebuild our major Sydney sports stadiums raise the question of how the money for those projects might be otherwise spent.

They frequently claim that for the same amount budgeted for the stadiums, NSW could build or upgrade new hospitals and schools. This line has some popular appeal. But it mistakenly assumes we are talking about money drawn from a fin­ite amount rather than money generated from revenue, which is ongoing and — in economic circumstances properly managed — ever-­increasing.

Artist impressions of the winning design for the future Sydney Football Stadium.

In fact, funding for the stadiums and funding for future schools and hospitals are connected in a very positive way.

New and improved multi-use stadiums will attract bigger and better events to NSW. Those events will attract increased local, interstate and international interest.

The money brought to NSW as a result of that interest — and driven through a massive variety of businesses and service providers — will generate huge boosts to our state’s tax revenue.

And that is where new schools and hospitals come into the equation.

We now have artist impressions of how the new Sydney Football Stadium headed for Moore Park will look, three months ahead of ­Allianz Stadium’s demolition in January. It’s impressive, to say the least. Sydney’s latest arena includes a hi-tech roof able to be lit up from the underside in the home team’s colours.

The future Sydney Football Stadium from the Driver Ave main entrance.

Also, there are thoughtful design touches tying the stadium to the natural environment of the neighbouring Centennial Park. Bars and terraces will set a new standard for attendees who have become used to such advances in other, more modern facilities throughout Australia and the world.

Now to the costs. The bill for knocking down and rebuilding the ageing Allianz stadium has been put at more than $729 million. Put that in the debit column.

In the profit column, however — and again, this is from where future revenue for schools and hospitals will be drawn — please consider these numbers.

The government ­expects the stadium to host 50 events and to host 1.2 million patrons a year on opening. At which point education and health are in play.

The Everest ready to peak

Thanks to an unrequested publicity surplus on Tuesday evening, interest in this year’s The Everest has hit a level even higher than the fabled mountain peak itself.

According to some bookies, The Everest is presently ahead of the Melbourne Cup as a punter draw — not bad for an event in only its second year.

Everyone’s ready, including Everest runner Viddora. Picture: Jay Town

Additionally, market research shows that the world’s richest turf race will continue setting records as younger fans are drawn to the contest.

It’ll be history in the making tomorrow at Royal Randwick, on the track and around the planet.

Getting on with the job

Anti-war demonstrations were frequent in the years before the 2004 federal election, many of them focusing on then-prime minister John Howard and his support for military ­action in Iraq.

Then the election was held and Howard easily won.

Likewise in the US during 2016, when candidate Donald Trump faced furious rallies at ­almost every campaign appearance. Again, Trump won.

And, just as in Australia 12 years earlier, demonstrators and activists could not understand it.

Where had all of Howard’s voters been hiding?

Treasurer Dominic Perrottet says Australia’s new “forgotten people” are the middle and working class, who don’t have voices as loud as those of protest groups or unions. Picture: Toby Zerna

The answer lies in the fact that many more people don’t ­attend rallies than do.

NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet touched on this yesterday in a rousing speech about Australia’s new “forgotten people” — the middle and working class.

“Unlike others, Middle Australia has no lobby group. There are no rallies. There is no political grandstanding. They have no media spokesman,” Perrottet said.

“They’re too busy just getting on with the job. Running businesses, raising families.”

In other words, they are building our future.

He and the Coalition are right to celebrate this large and productive sector of our community.