My question is to the Minister for the Arts and Sport, Senator Kemp. As one who had great pleasure in taking part in ceremonies in Canberra this weekend to do with the Queen’s Baton Relay, I ask the minister to update the Senate on the progress of preparations for the Melbourne Commonwealth Games.

Tell us about Turin.

How was the trip on the gravy train?

Thank you, Senator Evans, for the welcome back! I appreciate the question from Senator Humphries and for his continuing interest in the 2006 Commonwealth Games. There are only 16 days to go until Melbourne hosts the 2006 Commonwealth Games.

Then you are retiring.

Order, Senator Conroy!

Not only is Melbourne gearing up for the games—you just worry about preselections in Victoria, Senator Conroy. I know that you are not one of the lemmings, Senator Conroy, but you just concentrate on the main game.

Order! Minister, ignore the interjections and address your remarks through the chair.

I hear you are going to retire.

Senator Sherry interjecting—

Senator Carr interjecting—

Senator Conroy, Senator Sherry and Senator Carr, come to order!

Mr President, I raise a point of order. The minister was addressing his remarks directly to the senator. I think if you are going to call people to order you ought to call the minister to order. The senator was responding to those remarks. After your earlier intervention, I urge you to be even-handed in dealing with those issues.

If you recall, Senator Evans, I just asked the minister to ignore the interjections and address his remarks through the chair and I was drowned out by three of your senators behind you.

As I was saying before the interjections, not only is Melbourne gearing up for the games but many of Australia’s towns and regions are getting into the spirit as the Queen’s Baton makes its way to the MCG for the opening ceremony. In fact, the Governor-General, as Senator Humphries would know, set the baton on its way from Government House early this morning on a journey that will take the baton through Canberra suburbs and the Snowy Mountains before resting in Bombala this evening.

The Queen’s Baton Relay is one of the great traditions of the Commonwealth Games. It is a wonderful tradition and a terrific symbol of Commonwealth unity. In total, some 3,500 people will carry the baton on its journey around Australia before it reaches its final destination at the MCG. The baton will travel through more than 500 Australian communities over 50 days and will be carried more than 21,500 kilometres. I congratulate all those who have taken part in the Queen’s Baton Relay and who have been chosen as community runners. It is the longest and most inclusive relay in history.

For those who have an interest in the Commonwealth Games—and most Australians do, I am pleased to say—the 18th Commonwealth Games will bring together some 4,500 athletes from 71 Commonwealth nations and territories. The Australian team will be the largest ever for a Commonwealth Games, with over 420 sportsmen and sportswomen all vying for a spot on the podium. The Australian government is proud to be supporting what will be Victoria’s biggest ever cultural and sporting event.

The games will provide us with not only an opportunity to see Australia’s elite sportsmen and sportswomen competing against some of the best athletes in the world but also a chance to showcase Australia’s cultural achievements. Last week, with the state government, Festival Melbourne 2006 was launched. The festival brings together artists and performers from across Australia and the Commonwealth for a celebration of contemporary music, dance, circus, street theatre and a youth program.

On 15 March the MCG will play centre stage to the rest of the world for the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony. Today the public had a sneak preview of what is believed to be the largest temporary stage ever assembled on the MCG. That will certainly attract some interest. This is a very important sporting event. It is important for Australia’s sportsmen and sportswomen. It is important for Australia; it gives us a chance to showcase Australia to the wider world. I am sure that most Australians will take great pleasure in these events, which will start in Melbourne in 16 days time.