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Other Parliamentary SpeechesThis page is dedicated to Peter's speeches during parliament that do not fall under Questions or Questions without notice. They range from debating legislation, reporting on events or issues in his seat of Southport and his Ministerial Statements.
Gold Coast Magic Millions Carnival |
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| Posted by Administrator (admin) on Mar 27 2003 |
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Mr LAWLOR (Southport-ALP) (7.26 p.m.): I rise to congratulate the organisers of the Conrad Jupiters Magic Millions racing carnival and the Magic Millions Sale company on a magnificent 2003 event at the Gold Coast earlier this year. The three-day racing carnival began on Saturday, 4 January, continued with the IFS Silk Stocking race day, the traditional ladies day, on Wednesday the 8th, and culminated in the running of the two $1 million feature races for two- and three-year-olds on Saturday the 11th.
Almost 20,000 people attended the racing events over the three days, with 14,000 in attendance on the feature day. On Magic Millions day a shade under $2 million was wagered on the on-course tote, and the off-course hold was the second highest in Queensland TAB history at a healthy $4.5 million. The on-course bookmakers' hold of $4.7 million was also an excellent result and an indicator of the status that this event has achieved over recent years with the serious racing community.
A heightened off-track program generated a high level of community interest and involvement through happenings such as the hugely successful Broadbeach community breakfast in the park, the inaugural and also hugely successful call of the card, the Gold Coast Bulletin business breakfast and traditional social events such as the annual ladies' Hats and High Tea.
A patron survey on the final Saturday revealed that 42 per cent resided within the local authority boundaries of the Gold Coast City. The remaining 58 per cent gave their addresses as being outside the city. So this event is doing wonders for tourism on the Gold Coast. Accommodation houses were literally bursting at the seams right through the carnival, effectively extending the Gold Coast Christmas- New Year peak period by an extra fortnight-a bonanza also for the city's restaurants, transport providers, tourist attractions and, need I say, fashion suppliers.
Turning to the sales, again there are only remarkable results to report. This year there was a record average and gross sale price, with sales well above $50 million. Four hundred and fifty thousand people watched the Magic Millions sales live on the Internet in countries as diverse as the USA, Fiji, Japan, Poland, Singapore, Hong Kong, the UK and France.
Congratulations go to Queensland Events, which strongly supports the carnival; to chairman of the Gold Coast Turf Club, Bill Millican, and the club itself; to Magic Millions Sale company CEO David Chester and his team; to Sale owners Gerry Harvey, John Singleton and Rob Ferguson; to the sponsors, particularly Conrad Jupiters and the Gold Coast Bulletin, and the other sponsors large and small; and to each and every person who contributed to the 2003 event.
Early estimates put the economic benefit to the Gold Coast of the 2003 Conrad Jupiters Magic Millions Carnival at $20 million. But members should not be surprised if that estimate is later proved conservative, unlike the political colour of the Gold Coast these days. Last changed: [PUBLISHED_DATE] at 11:00 PM
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