Our strong motoring history

SOUTH East Queensland shares a special bond with Australian motorsport that continues to this day, and in my capacity as co-chair of the Parliamentary Friends of Motorsport, I would like to share my passion for motor racing with the people of Logan.
Hopefully, many of the Forde constituents tuned in to watch this year’s Bathurst 1000 motor race.
Every year we are treated to a showcase of remarkable driving skill, as the best Supercar drivers in the land descend on Mount Panorama. But the ‘Great Race’ delivers so much more than high speed thrills.
As well as all the viewers who watch from their homes, hundreds of thousands descend on the iconic race track every October. The impact on the local economy is immense, with an estimated $25 million spent on accommodation, entertainment, food, and drink in and around Bathurst.
Organisers were hoping for more than 200,000 race fans, weather permitting, to gather in the region for the four-day event, which is welcome news after a few tough years, including crowd restrictions as part of Covid-19 protocols.
This huge turnout and the unquestionable love of motor racing from the Australian public are further evidence of the popularity of motorsport in our communities and why governments, at all levels, should be supporting this key economic driver.
It is estimated motorsport contributes up to $9 billion dollars a year to the Australian economy and employs tens of thousands of people directly and indirectly.
Every week across the country, including here in South East Queensland, you will find people enjoying motorsport, whether they be racing, volunteering, or watching.
The legendary Dick Johnson Racing team, which celebrated its one thousandth race start on the weekend, was established at Daisy Hill before relocating to the Gold Coast.
Also competing at the latest Mount Panorama event was the Yatala-based Matt Stone Racing team.
I hope you join me in supporting Australian motor sport in the future so that races like the Bathurst 1000 are around for us all to enjoy for many years to come.