Get Involved - Parliament

Arts and Cultural Events

Published on: November 2022

Record: HANSARD-1323879322-129690

Arts and Cultural Events

Ms FELICITY WILSON (North Shore) (14:56:08):

My question is addressed to the Minister for Enterprise, Investment and Trade, and Minister for Sport. Will the Minister please update the House on how the New South Wales Government is supercharging the New South Wales economy this summer?

The SPEAKER:

Order! I call the member for Macquarie Fields to order for the second time. I call the member for Rockdale to order for the second time. I call the member for Keira to order for the second time.

Mr ALISTER HENSKENS (Ku-ring-gaiMinister for Skills and Training, Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology, Minister for Enterprise, Investment and Trade, and Minister for Sport) (14:56:40):Noël! Noël!

— I thank the member for North Shore for her question. The New South Wales Government is absolutely supercharging the New South Wales economy this summer. I inform members and the general public that summer is back in New South Wales. With the New South Wales Government's record investments in sports infrastructure, arts, live music and cultural events, New South Wales is absolutely back. Events this summer include the opening of Sydney Modern, the premieres, and the best Christmas markets in the whole world. We are going to have entertainment at the remarkable Allianz Stadium, a stadium where there are no bad seats.

The SPEAKER:

I remind the member for Wollongong that he is on three calls. He will not get another warning.

Mr ALISTER HENSKENS:

There will be great food and the drinks will be flowing. We have personal recommendations about the great Allianz Stadium from none other than the member for Coogee. I am putting out the welcome mat to everyone and wish to extend an olive branch to those opposite. In the spirit of Christmas, I say to them: Come on back to Allianz. Do not listen to the Leader of the Opposition's veto on attending Allianz Stadium—come back and join in. It is my personal invitation. I know that only last week the member for Granville was ringing around Labor members and the parliamentary friends of the NRL, telling them, "Don't go to Allianz Stadium because you might be photographed like the member for Coogee was." But I urge them to come back. Do not listen to the Leader of the Opposition's bans. Let us face it: Last night we saw an easing on the Opposition leader's imposed booze ban. There were reports of people not following the booze ban.

Mr Ron Hoenig:

Point of order: My point of order relates to Standing Order 129. The Minister is nowhere near the question.

The SPEAKER:

I ask the Minister to come back to the leave of the question.

Mr ALISTER HENSKENS:

Last night we saw a really interesting time. There was a five-time Olympic gold medallist in the House by the name of Ian Thorpe. He was photographed with a two-time Opposition leader contestant. I have in my hand the photo. If you are putting something on social media, do you not think you would label the no-name guy on the left and not the five-time Olympic gold medal hero?

Mr Ron Hoenig:

Point of order—

The SPEAKER:

The member for Heffron rises on a point of order. The Minister will resume his seat.

Mr ALISTER HENSKENS:

It is social media 101: You label the no-name. You do not label the five‑time Olympic gold medal hero.

The SPEAKER:

The Minister's time has expired.