Greens’ major events spokeswoman Katherine Copsey says ‘it’s time to wave the chequered flag on the Grand Prix’

The Victorian Greens are calling for the F1 race to be cancelled, arguing the Albert Park event “can no longer be justified”.

The Greens say the state government is ‘sending millions of dollars down the drain’ by supporting the Grand Prix. Picture: Getty

The Victorian Greens have renewed spectacular calls for next weekend’s Grand Prix to be cancelled.

With just over a week until race day, the minor party said it wants Melbourne to lose the global racing event, which acts as a major drawcard to the city.

Last year’s Grand Prix attracted a record attendance, with nearly 420,000 fans turning out to Albert Park.

The state government last year secured Melbourne as the host of the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix for an extra two years, locking in the contract until at least 2037.

About 420,000 fans attended the event at Albert Park last year. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

But the Greens have again raised concerns about the costs associated with hosting the event, claiming “every single year, the GP runs at a net loss”.

It also said the event was a massive disruption to local amenity and impacted local sport.

Greens’ major events spokeswoman Katherine Copsey said the 2023 event marked “27 years of public spending on an event with opaque decision making and sparse community consultation”.

“It’s time to wave the chequered flag on the Grand Prix,” she said.

“This expensive race to the bottom can no longer be justified.

“Every year the state government sends millions of dollars down the drain while turning Albert Park into a construction site for months.

The Greens are concerned about the costs associated with hosting the event. Picture: Getty

“The government knows it’s too expensive and a massive disruption to community sport and local amenity, yet refuses to call it a day.”

Last year’s Grand Prix boosted Victoria’s Gross State Product by $171 million and it generated $92 million of direct spending in the economy.

Tourism, Sport and Major Events Minister Steve Dimopoulos backed the event continuing.

“We’re the only city in the world to have both a Grand Prix and a Grand Slam, and that’s no accident – nowhere does major events better than Melbourne,” he said.

“The Grand Prix is more than just a race. It creates vital jobs for thousands of people each year – from builders to baristas, the event delivers major economic benefits to Victorian businesses and workers.

“We’re excited to welcome visitors from around Victoria, Australia and the globe to our restaurants, cafes and arts scene next week to showcase our city, boost our hospitality sector and put our state on the map.”