Lord mayoral candidate Jennifer Yang wants Melbourne to boost tourism by hosting 2030 World Expo

MELBOURNE first hosted a world expo in the 19th century when the city was rich from the gold rush. A lord mayoral candidate thinks it’s time we had another go.

The last Australian World Expo was held in Brisbane in 1988.

MELBOURNE would stage a mega global exhibition under a lord mayoral candidate’s plan to boost tourism.

Jennifer Yang said Melbourne should host the World Expo in 2030 — 150 years after the city first hosted the event at the Royal Exhibition Building.

“A world expo in Melbourne will bring billions of dollars to our local economy and millions of tourists to our city,” she said.

“I want to showcase our 21st-century city to the world to help grow business opportunities and strengthen our relationships globally.”

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Lord mayoral candidate Jennifer Yang is pushing for Melbourne to once again host a world expo.

The last time an Australian city hosted an expo was Brisbane in 1988 during the nation’s bicentenary.

The latest world expo was held in Milan, Italy, in 2015.

Australian Grand Prix Corporation chairman John Harnden welcomed Ms Yang’s idea.

“It’s a tremendous opportunity for Melbourne, it’s a huge global event — we should always be on the front foot looking for something different and the best opportunities available,” he said.

Ms Yang has pledged to commit the resources of the City of Melbourne to the bid if she’s elected, but a stumbling block is Australia no longer being a member of the international organisation that manages the bids.

Australia’s pavilion at Expo 88 in Brisbane three decades ago.

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Ms Yang, a Labor Party member, has also promised to abolish ten “unnecessary” fees, licenses and permits if she wins the May 11 by-election to replace former lord mayor Robert Doyle.

They include permits for advertising banners, outdoor cafes and non-amplified spruiking.

Ms Yang has a professional team handling her campaign, as does early frontrunner Sally Capp, who has put her job as a Property Council executive on hold.

Both candidates have done expensive mail-outs to voters, and have posters around town.

A veteran council poll observer, who declined to be named, said he was amazed at the amount of money being spent by some candidates.

“Unless you’ve got hundreds of thousands of dollars, you have no show,” he said.

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