Mary Aldred (Monash, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise to speak about the deep and growing concern across Phillip Island about the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix beyond 2026. MotoGP is the economic heartbeat of Phillip Island. Local accommodation providers, cafes, restaurants and retailers are crystal clear: MotoGP week underpins their entire year. Forward bookings, staffing decisions and investment plans are already being made based on the assumption that this event continues, and the uncertainty alone is already causing damage.

This is more than just dollars and cents though. MotoGP has shaped Phillip Island's identity for decades. It has put the island on the world stage, driven regional tourism and supported stable, local jobs in a community that absolutely loves the GP, even if the Victorian Labor government's enthusiasm is running on empty. If MotoGP were to leave, it would leave a hole in regional businesses that we simply cannot replace. There's no substitute event waiting in the wings that delivers the same scale, certainty or international profile. And yet this is Jacinta Allan's Victoria, where major events and reinvestment are continually put at risk. That's why I've written to the trade minister asking for support and certainty. Jess Wilson said she's absolutely revved up, and rightly so. We need the Phillip Island GP to stay local.