Hello again,

Our fight to protect Albert Park Reserve from Government neglect and being overrun by the Grand Prix continues!

We still need your help to stop the Australian Grands Prix Amendment bill. The bill has already been passed in the Lower House. The proposed Upper House vote last month was pulled from the agenda because the Labor Government could not get sufficient numbers – thanks in large part to your support for our campaign.

The Liberals, Greens, Animal Justice Party and Legalise Cannabis Victoria all indicated they would oppose the bill (or at least the 21 day lockout, in the case of the Libs).

The bill was only withdrawn, not rejected or altered in any way. It is likely to surface again when the Upper House next sits in mid-October. No doubt much lobbying will be underway by the Government to sway the politicians who hold the balance of power.

We’re asking you to contact key politicians so that our voices might ‘shout louder than the money’. 

Before the bill is passed, the community is demanding four key measures from the Government and Minister Dimopoulos.

1.        Abandon the legislative push for a 21-day lockout. Instead, set up complete and transparent planning between the AGPC and all Park stakeholders to minimise the duration and impact of the race period lockout. Hold meetings with tenants, users, and environmental representatives in Albert Park Reserve. 

2.        Prevent the AGPC running any other event of any kind within Albert Park Reserve (other than the GP itself) by removing this part of the bill. 

3.        Commit to a review of all compensation mechanisms in the current GP Act, to ensure that all tenants and sub-tenants are fairly compensated for the disruption caused by the Grand Prix.

4.        Publicly commit to developing and funding a balanced approach to Albert Park, so that supporting Australia’s most famous park happens for 365 days of the year, not just the 4 days of the GP. This should be based on Parks Victoria’s existing and proposed development plans and for other general-purpose requirements covering passive and individual recreational use, environmental and heritage care and protection, and Park access.

Even if you have already contacted politicians of any flavour, please contact them again to remind them how unacceptable this GP scope-creep is to you, and of the desperate need for a balanced approach to Australia’s most famous park, Albert Park Reserve. With non-govt MPs, please also thank them for their support to date.

In particular, write to Steve Dimopoulos, the key Minister, and to as many MPs listed below as you feel comfortable doing. They may hold the balance of power over this amendment.

Government representatives 

 Nina Taylor MP  [ALP – State member for Albert Park]

The Hon. Steve Dimopoulos [ALP – the key Minister – Major Events, Sport, Envir’t]

Josh Burns MHR [ALP – local federal MP] 

Other Parties

Sam Groth MP  [Liberal shadow Major Events Minister] 

Georgie Purcell MLC  [Animal Justice]

David Ettershank MLC  [Legalise Cannabis Victoria]

Katherine Copsey MLC  [Greens]

Georgie Crozier MLC  [Liberal]

Rachel Westaway MP [Lib. MP for Prahran]

With your help, we can stop this damaging Bill and ensure the park is protected for future generations. 

Hugo Armstrong
President, Albert Park Community Sports Association

And on behalf of many community, sporting, environmental and recreational groups, and the Port Phillip community.