The Australian F1 Grand Prix, the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix, World Masters Games, Presidents Golf Cup, the International Air Show are only a few of the more prestigious events.
2.
Economists At Large & Associates, Grand Prixtensions: The Economics of the Magic Pudding, prepared for the Save Albert Park group. Dec. 1997; ACT Auditor-General's Office, Performance Audit: V8 Car Races in Canberra — Costs and Benefits, Canberra, July 2002; GansJoshua, ‘Of Grand Prix and Circuses’, (1996) Australian Economic Review299–307; GittinsRoss, ‘Olympics won't bring gold to the economy’, Age, 19 November 1997; BlackTerryPapeAmelia, ‘The IndyCar Grand Prix: Costs and Benefits’, (1995) September Australian Accountant25–8.
3.
See s.49 Australian Grands Prix Act 1994.
4.
‘Premier announces Audit Review of Contracts’, Media Release, Office of the Premier, 15 December 1999. Professor Bill Russell's report ‘Contracting, Privatisation Probity and Disclosure’ was published in May 2000.
5.
• The Premier is the sole shareholder of M2006 Commonwealth Games P/L. Its Board of Directors comprises five state government appointees, three from ACGA and two from CGF. Mr Ron Walker, Chairperson of the Australian Grand Prix Corporation is the Chairperson of the Board of Directors. M2006 is a ‘public body’ as defined by s.5 of the Audit Act 1994 and is subject to audit by the Auditor-General. [See Postscript.]
6.
Under s.98 VCAT Act, the Tribunal is bound by the rules of natural justice, not bound by the rules of evidence and must conduct proceedings ‘with as little formality and technicality’ and ‘with as much speed’ as possible to ensure proper consideration of matters.
7.
Currently the cost of issuing an originating motion in the Victorian Supreme Court is $610. The filing fee for an application for unfair dismissal in the Australian Industrial Relations Commission is $50. There are no fees for various applications under the Workplace Relations Act 1996. Many registered organisations, major users of the Commission, have considerable financial reserves.
8.
It is almost 20 years since I held a practising certificate.
9.
KyrouE.PizerJ., Victorian Administrative Law, Law Book Co, 1985 (looseleaf).
10.
I spent many hundreds of dollars photocopying.
11.
I am grateful to Professor Hodge for doing so.
12.
Neither sought to intervene. The Commonwealth Games Federation wrote directly to the Tribunal expressing its resistance to the disclosure of the relevant documents.
13.
In fairness to the Vice-President, the delay arose because of his desire to attend the funeral of a friend, a Queensland Supreme Court judge. It was acknowledged that the correspondence might have been more forthcoming.
14.
See para 16 of decision, 30 January 2003, Stewart v Dept of Tourism, Sport and the Commonwealth Games [2003] VCAT 45, 30 January 2003.
15.
If it had not been for the support of a number of helpers present in the room (David, Frances and Marg) I might have succumbed to my lack of confidence and given in to my desire for the ground to swallow me up and the matter to be at an end. Without the support and encouragement of these people and a host of others I could not have pursued the matter as far as I have. Also, in addition to my own legal training, albeit now decades old and unpractised, and therefore of fading usefulness, I received valuable assistance from a number of members of the legal profession in academia, at the bar and in practice, all of whom I thank.
16.
Stewart v Dept of Tourism, Sport and the Commonwealth Games, above, ref 14.
17.
With the exception of M2006's argument in relation to trade secrets.
18.
See second reading speech, Freedom of Information (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill, 8 December 1999. That Bill, amongst other things sought to narrow the exemptions available for exemptions for ‘Cabinet confidentiality’ and ‘Commercial confidentiality’ and also to reduce the costs of appeals.
