Melissa Parke (Fremantle, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In eleven days time the City of Fremantle will play host to the 2011 International Sailing Federation, ISAF, Sailing World Championships, known as Perth 2011.

Perth 2011 runs from 3 December to 18 December and will see the world's most accomplished sailors compete for a place in the 2012 London Olympic Games. Seventy-five per cent of the national participants who will be competing at the London Olympics will be chosen on the basis of their team's performance throughout the duration of the ISAF event. More than 1,400 sailors and 850 boats from 80 nations will be in attendance, along with tens of thousands of support crew, families, media and spectators.

I know that the Fremantle and wider Western Australian community is very much looking forward to being host of this event. It is a role we love; we take pride and pleasure in sharing with visitors from all over the world our beautiful environment, our diverse culture, our Indigenous heritage and of course the famous wind known as the Fremantle doctor. This sailing extravaganza represents an excellent opportunity for the Western Australian tourism industry, at a time when the high Australian dollar has put pressure on that important industry. Perth 2011 is set to be as beneficial for Fremantle and WA's reputation as a tourist destination as the America's Cup was in 1987. The Australian government recognised the significance of Perth 2011 and the positive impact it could have on Fremantle and Western Australia and has invested over $8 million to support the event and secure its success.

I would like to make special mention of 1983 America's Cup crew member and project manager John Longley, who has been vital in the development of Perth 2011 in his role as event director. I say thank you to John and his team for all their effort and hard work. Special attention should also be given to the Fremantle, East Fremantle, Royal Perth, South Perth, Hillary's, Mounts Bay, and Royal Freshwater yacht and sailing clubs, which are providing the 160 official boats required to run the event. In March this year Royal Perth Yacht Club staged a successful trial regatta in Fremantle's inner harbour attracting a large crowd of spectators and onlookers.

The Australian government also funded the Emerging Nations Program, a series of intensive training programs leading up to Perth 2011 designed to improve the skills of young sailors from emerging nations such as Moldova, India, Serbia, Mexico and the Philippines. Over the last 12 months the City of Fremantle has been working closely with the state and federal government to prepare for the tens of thousands of visitors who will pass through Fremantle for the two weeks of the event. The 'Worlds Village' is the centrepiece of Perth 2011, located in Fremantle's famous fishing boat harbour. The village will host competitor activities, cultural events, live music and a big screen displaying live coverage of all races. Many constituents have said they feel the same buzz in the air as when the Australian Kookaburra III defended the America's Cup against the American Stars & Stripes 87 in 1987.

Perth 2011 represents a wonderful opportunity for sailing in Australia and to showcase the magnificent multicultural port city of Fremantle to the world. I congratulate the Perth 2011 team, the City of Fremantle, the state and federal governments and everyone involved in bringing this world-class event to fruition.