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The Hon. TONY BURKE: My question without notice is directed to the Treasurer, Minister for State Development, and Vice-President of the Executive Council. Will the Minister inform the House what the New South Wales Government is doing to maximise opportunities presented by the Rugby World Cup being held in Australia in October-November 2003?
The Hon. MICHAEL EGAN: I thank the Hon. Tony Burke for his question. As the honourable member probably already realises, the Rugby World Cup is one of the five largest sporting events in the world. Certainly it will be the biggest event in New South Wales since the 2000 Olympics. At this year's world cup some 20 nations will be participating and 48 matches will be played across Australia during a period of almost six weeks from 10 October to 22 November. I am pleased to inform the House that 17 of those matches will be played in New South Wales. Sydney will be hosting the prestigious finals series, with lead-up matches taking place in Sydney, Gosford and Wollongong. The Department of State and Regional Development is implementing a targeted business program to maximise business, investment and export opportunities from the international attention that the Rugby World Cup will attract and also from the expected 55,000 visitors to New South Wales, many of whom will be business people who will be coming to see the 2003 Rugby World Cup.
Business program activities include a series of Rugby World Cup international investment forums to market Sydney and New South Wales, with an initial forum planned for 6 June in Tokyo; a hosted business program in Sydney during October; promotion of the Trade and Investment Centre facilities at Grosvenor Place for meetings and corporate events during the Rugby World Cup; business networking and Government-hosted functions in Sydney, the Central Coast and Illawarra regions planned around Rugby World Cup matches; and industry-specific events ranging from information and communication technology to biotechnology and sports infrastructure, to be held during the cup. I assure the Hon. Tony Burke and the House that the Government will work to ensure that the Rugby World Cup is not just a great event for the many sports fans but also a great opportunity to promote New South Wales business to the world.
In view of the time, if honourable members have further questions, I suggest they put them on notice or ask them tomorrow.