Moncrieff Media

Ditch the Economic Vandals of the Tweed – bring the rally

07 September 2009

Rally organisers should ditch the Tweed and bring the World Rally Championship to the Gold Coast, says local MP Steven Ciobo.

Mr Ciobo said the performance of protesters during the weekend’s rally was an outrageous, embarrassing and potentially life-threatening disruption which should never have been allowed to happen.

“Here we have an event reportedly worth hundreds of millions of dollars, watched by up to 50 million people worldwide, a massive boost to the local economy, and it’s allowed to be so marred by what is basically a fringe minority of environmental crackpots,” Mr Ciobo said.

“With drivers saying they won’t come back, this was not only embarrassing for the region, it was embarrassing for the nation. While I support people’s right to protest, throwing rocks at vehicles is downright dangerous and those responsible should be charged,” he said.

“I’ve got a message for organisers – make it easier on yourselves next year, spurn the rock-throwing eco-jihadists of the Tweed and bring your race to southeast Queensland. I now challenge Tourism Minister Peter Lawlor to facilitate this to help Queensland host this terrific event.”

Mr Ciobo said southeast Queensland offered several potential sites for the rally whose international standing did not deserve the pitiful treatment it received at the weekend.

“It is economically and environmentally naïve to think you can just lock up swathes of our landscape and throw away the key, denying the region of economic activity that generates thousands of people’s livelihoods – it’s regressive, outdated thinking. These people need to understand the value of event tourism,” Mr Ciobo said.

“We see the value of international events such as the Australian Open or the Formula One Grand Prix to the Melbourne economy, and this is no different on a regional level. I am sure the people of Boonah or Beaudesert would welcome an event like this on their doorstep.”