Basil Zempilas 10 things: Why can’t government divulge how much will be spent on wrestling returning?

1. The Formula 1 Grand Prix costs Melbourne $100 million a year. I know that because former Victorian Labor minister for tourism and now chair of the Australian Grand Prix board, Martin Pakula said so. Gather Round will cost South Australia $80 million in cash and non-capital investment over the life of the current three-year deal. I know that because SA Labor Premier Peter Malinauskas has previously indicated how much of his State’s annual major events budget is spent on the marquee round. But do you think the WA Labor Government will tell us how much it’s costing to bring the WWE to Perth in October? On that score Minister Reece Whitby is happy to be Cena but not heard. 2. Hiding behind a cloak of “commercial sensitivity” our Tourism Minister can’t divulge how many WA taxpayer dollars will be spent on bringing the wrestling back, but he is happy to tell us last year’s event brought in 18,000 visitors and injected $36 million into the economy. Can we see the paperwork on those numbers? And why is it sharing the good news data with the world is fine but no one should dare ask about the cost? 3. Even though I’m not a wrestling man, I love the big events and the ambition of this Government to go and get them. But how can we know the return on investment, if we don’t know what the investment is? 4. Soft hands, a warm smile and lovely recognition of Perth. That’s how I’ll remember my brief encounter with Pope Francis at the Vatican last year. It was a privilege to travel to his energy and climate summit as lord mayor and meet His Holiness. May he rest in peace. 5. Given what is about to take place in Rome to select the next pope, can I suggest a catch-up viewing of the movie Conclave to bring you up to speed. 6. I will be very pleased to be in Kings Park on Friday as both Liberal leader and Leader of the Opposition for the ANZAC Day Dawn Service and a wreath laying at the Jewish War Memorial. This year as Member for Churchlands, I have the added honour of attending the Cambridge RSL ANZAC Day ceremony in West Leederville before observing the ANZAC Day march in the city. Lest we forget. 7. What a fitting tribute to name the medal for best player in the Len Hall tribute match the Arthur Leggett Medal. It’s perfect. 8. Ten days off for three days leave — good for some. 9. Happy 25th birthday to the Graham Farmer Freeway. This week our famous tunnel marks a quarter of a century connecting west and east Perth. 10. Like most Perth motorists, I marvel at the engineering masterpiece — even though its construction came at the expense of the Zempilas family home built up above at 96 Lake Street by my grandparents in 1928.