World Youth Day

Mr RICHARD AMERY: I direct my reworded question without notice to the Minister for Ageing and Disability Services. Can the Minister outline how Sydneysiders can, firstly, participate in World Youth Day; secondly, avoid World Youth Day; and, thirdly, cope with the crowds at this event; and fourthly, with 19 days to go, is there any information the Minister has not told us about World Youth Day?

Mr Adrian Piccoli: Point of order: Members are able to ask only one question. You do occasionally allow a second question, but there are four parts of this question. I ask that you direct the member to reword it.

The SPEAKER: Order! The point of order is valid. A question is meant to be one question. I have shown the Opposition a great deal of leniency in this regard, but I ask the member for Mount Druitt to restate his question.

Mr RICHARD AMERY: Can the Minister advise the House of what Sydneysiders can do to either participate in or avoid World Youth Day, and of any other information she has yet to provide?

Ms KRISTINA KENEALLY: There is some information I have not provided to the House. I note that the member for Mount Druitt has put a question on the Notice Paper asking where the people of Mount Druitt can go to see the journey of the Cross and the Icon and I can advise him that on Saturday 5 July in Rooty Hill and Emerton are the best opportunity for people who live in the electorate of Mount Druitt to see that Cross and Icon as it comes, from 1 to 15 July, right around metropolitan Sydney.

I know that members are excited about the fact that there are only 19 days before World Youth Day—the biggest event to come to Sydney since the Olympics, and the biggest event on Earth outside the Beijing Olympics. Members of the public are asking, "Where can I go to see the Pope?" That is something that members of the public want to know. Today we released a web-based event planner. People should go online—

The SPEAKER: Order! The House will come to order.

Ms KRISTINA KENEALLY: Members of the public can go online and check out the venues available for the papal boat-a-cade on Sydney Harbour and for the papal motorcade through the central business district on Super Thursday 17 July when the Pope arrives at Sydney Harbour. They can check out venues such as Mrs Macquarie's Point; they can see what venues are available to the public; and they can register an interest in attending those venues. If they register an interest they will receive in the mail public transport information about how to get to those venues. We launched this event planner so that people can avoid disappointment. We do not want people showing up at a venue only to find out that a particular event is only for registered pilgrims.

I encourage people to go online and to register their intention of attending specific World Youth Day events. Let us be clear about this issue: registering an interest in a venue does not guarantee a pass and it is not a ticket to go to that venue. However, it provides information about where people can go to see the Pope or to be part of this big celebration. This process is similar to the process that was used for the Sydney Harbour Bridge seventy-fifth anniversary, which worked quite well. When Sydneysiders have information about an event and about how best to attend an event, they follow that information and we are able to host a great celebration in the city.

I encourage people to go to the event planner at www.wyd2008.org/eventplanner—a joint initiative between the Iemma Government and World Youth Day 2008. Some people want to attend Randwick Racecourse for the final mass. The Seven Cross Precinct for the final mass includes Randwick Racecourse and Centennial Park. I am advised that the Pope will conduct a flyover of Centennial Park and he will then take his pope-mobile through Centennial Park. Many screens will be in place, I am advised that communion will be distributed, and all that will occur in the precincts of Centennial Park. If people want to ensure that they have a spot at the racecourse for that final mass I advise them to register as a pilgrim for World Youth Day. With 19 days to go it is worth reviewing the key messages for World Youth Day—and this is for the benefit of the member for Mount Druitt and all members in this House.

The SPEAKER: Order! If members cease interjecting the House will be provided with all the Minister's valuable information as quickly as possible.

Ms KRISTINA KENEALLY: With crowds of up to half a million people in the central business district for World Youth Day the clear message to those who are not taking part in World Youth Day celebrations and who want to avoid the crowds is: avoid coming into the central business district. There will be significant crowds of people, in particular, on Thursday and Friday. Those not participating in the celebrations should try to avoid the central business district. If they need to come to the central business district they should use public transport and plan ahead.

The SPEAKER: Order! Members—including the member for Willoughby, the member for Castle Hill and the Leader of The Nationals—will cease interjecting.

Ms KRISTINA KENEALLY: Those who want to be part of the World Youth Day celebrations should go to the online event planner at the World Youth Day 2008 website, register their interest in a venue and, in particular, plan ahead, check out the transport information line, and use public transport to be part of this great event. This event will be Sydney's biggest celebration ever. I encourage all members to take note of this information and to ensure that their constituents are informed about how they can avoid, or be a part of, this great celebration in Sydney.