The blog is taking a break. In the meantime, a guest post from the Save Albert  Park team.

The Victorian government slashed $95 million from Parks Victoria’s budget while promising the owners of Formula One, Liberty Media, a $350 million pit building extension as part of a deal to extend the grand prix contract a further two years from 2035 to 2037.

Peter Logan, Save Albert Park’s spokesperson said:

“Protecting Victoria’s dry and overgrown national parks from fire risks and helping the Albert Park Sports Clubs combat the annual negative impacts of the grand prix takes a backseat to further lining the pockets of the owners of Formula One, Liberty Media.”

“It is in Liberty Media’s interest to keep the grand prix in Melbourne because the State Government is willing to pay annual exorbitant fees to host a four-day event on top of revenue the owners of F1 receive from trackside advertising.”

“The massive pit building/Paddock Club corporate facility is comprising an expansion of the Paddock Club corporate facility, will ensure Liberty Media fat cats will also reap an annual estimated $30 million from this facility. Revenue from that facility had previously gone to the Australian Grand Prix Corporation.”

This is one of Melbourne’s major public parks, not a motor racing circuit. Victorians are the losers. Again.

Incidentally, as revealed at VCAT, the 465,000 plus “fans” that GP minister Dimopoulos claimed includes 70,000 attendances by staff and credentialled persons (like delivery drivers and caterers) and around 30,000 schoolchildren who supposedly attend on free tickets but are not scanned in. The AGPC is still trialling scanners which began in 2012!

It’s worth noting a transcript of a question posed to Minister Dimopoulos and his answer at a 11 May news conference to reannounce the $350 million pit building/corporate facility expansion in Albert Park. The Age’s Chip Le Grand had already revealed this expansion and who profits from it in 2023 “Taxpayers upgrade Paddock Club for F1 owners – who will take all the profit”. 

And what about Mr Dimopoulos’ commitment to the environment?

Question posed to Minister Dimopoulos: “Is there any money for the ecology of the Albert Park Lake? Some locals have reached out saying it’s not too great at the moment. Concrete walls are crumbling, there’s a lot of pollution in there.”

Answer from Minister Dimopoulos: Yeah, so err, I’m.. I’m happy to hear that. Thank you for raising that. I’ll be speaking to Parks Victoria about, um, doing more to make sure that this prestigious Albert Park stays prestigious. I think it is prestigious, but this is Parks Victoria’s .. ah, .. Parks Victoria is the land manager here and ah, we’ll make sure that um, err, they take on board those concerns of residents. But, if you look at it though, it’s a pretty prestigious place. Like, it works well. It supports, you know, 30 sports clubs. It supports runners and joggers. It supports an entire economy of people. Ah, and it’s a great place, but absolutely take on board your feedback from the residents.

Mr Dimopoulos has ignored repeated feedback from residents and from Sports Clubs in Albert Park about the GP’s negative impact and the exorbitant, annual cost of a four-day event to Victorians.

The subsidies add billions to state debt. Contrast that with the latest $95m cut to Parks Victoria’s budget, its ability to implement the latest AP Master Plan and maintain and nurture Victoria’s parks.

By following the money trail Mr Dimopoulous and the local member, Nina Taylor, have demonstrated their priorities. The environment, the Sports Clubs and Victoria’s budget come second to filling the coffers of F1’s owners, Liberty Media. This foreign-owned business will take an extra $30 million annually in revenue from the expansion of the Paddock Club’s corporate facility from 2,500 to 5,000 patrons.