19 August 2012

Andrew announces motorsports funding. Motorists Party not happy at all.

| johnboy
Join the conversation
29

This morning Andrew Barr announced funding for motorsports clubs in the ACT. Sharing $800,000 were:

— ACT Motorcycle Club,

— Trials Club of Canberra,

— Brindabella Motor Sports Club,

— National Capital Motorsports Club,

— Southern District Motorsport Club,

— Canberra Kart Racing Club,

— Dual Sport Motorcycle Riders Association, and

— Canberra Bulls.

The Australian Motorists Party have sent in an angry reply taking a pop at arts funding:

The absolute hypocrisy of A.C.T. Labor to hand out motor sports grants two months out from the election. If you remember back to 2008 they did exactly the same thing. It is amazing that they can find a splattering of money at this time, just before an election. Notice the $800,000 is split between six or seven groups of motor sport clubs giving them just enough money to struggle through the next four years. If you compare the number of art lovers compared to the number of motor sports supporters paying taxes in the A.C.T. the motor sports fraternity is ripped off, that is if you compare the large amount the arts receives every year compared to the small amount motor sport receives every four years.

Join the conversation

29
All Comments
  • All Comments
  • Website Comments
LatestOldest

p1 said :

m@ said :

Pokies in motorsport clubs are the answer.

Actually, that is great idea. I’m surprised Summergnats haven’t figured out a way to get a few hundred pokies on site at epic each January.

+1

m@ said :

Pokies in motorsport clubs are the answer.

Actually, that is great idea. I’m surprised Summergnats haven’t figured out a way to get a few hundred pokies on site at epic each January.

Pokies in motorsport clubs are the answer.

Felix the Cat9:45 am 20 Aug 12

Jerry Atric said :

Oh dear, I didn’t get it wrong after all. (sigh)

I was just pointing out the inconsistency in funding comparing art and motorsport. I like motorsport and I like art – not all art and not all motorsport. Because I have different tastes than you Jerry Atric, does that make me a bogan and a cretin?

I haven’t heard too many positive comments about most of the public art on the side of Canberra roads. I was just saying that the cost to the taxpayer of the two (of many) pieces of public art (that hardly anyone likes) mentioned in my original post would be probably double what the govt is “genorously” proposing to give to a few motorsport clubs.

fabforty said :

Why is the Government funding motorsports at all?

In this instance, I’d say they are doing it to buy votes. But the same question could be asked of their funding of arts, of events, of a great many things.

The answer is simple: because that’s their job. They are supposed to use the money to spend on the people of the ACT.

Why is the Government funding motorsports at all ? If you can afford a car and/or motorbike and the fuel you waste driving around in circles, then you can afford to fund your own hobby.

Give it to the hospital where it will do some good.

Hmm, one lot of politicians announcing gifts before an election, another lot of pollies whinging about it.

Seems about right

So the days of the Liberals giving the Drag Strip to their mate were better?

jsm2090 said :

X71 said :

WillowJim said :

F***ing outrageous decision. What public benefit is created by this public spending?

I would say its the same benefit as public art except that people actually like looking at Motorsport as opposed to public art.
The thing is that If you don’t like Motorsport you don’t have to watch it and yet I’m exposed to distasteful displays of so called art on every street corner.

Ok, you pro motorsport ‘fans’ on the RA need to pull your head out of your asses, as you really give your sport a bad name. Your anti-everything-else-that-needs-funding fanaticism is only up there with the NRA.

It’s not really an “anti-everything-else” attitude so far as I can see. There seems to be a fair amount of bitterness regarding funding towards ‘The Arts” and in all fairness, given some of the s*** that gets funded under that pretense, who can blame them? The totem pole looking things at the intersection of Belconnen Way and Gungahlin Dr, the weird bunch of steel beams at the Barton Hwy and Gungahlin Dr, the alleged owl, the pear of anguish, WTF are the people procuring this s*** thinking?

Jerry Atric said :

Have I got this wrong? Motorsports lovers are cretins and bogans and would not be seen dead in a museum, theatre or gallery so the funding is being wasted on a minority?

So, if someone likes the idea of watching a skilled (ideally) operator using a piece of well designed and built machinery to its limits more than they like they idea of looking at a picture hanging on a wall, that makes them a cretin? I’m not going to argue with the term bogan, because I don’t see it as an insult. Bogans are people too, they pay tax, they vote and you know what? I’d rather hang around with the average bogan than the average “patron of the arts”. At least the bogans tend to be less judgemental and pretentious. You obnoxious twit.

X71 said :

WillowJim said :

F***ing outrageous decision. What public benefit is created by this public spending?

I would say its the same benefit as public art except that people actually like looking at Motorsport as opposed to public art.
The thing is that If you don’t like Motorsport you don’t have to watch it and yet I’m exposed to distasteful displays of so called art on every street corner.

Well you’ve got the folks in the Watson/Dickson area who have to put up with Summernats and all the, for want of a dirtier word, ‘colourful’ characters it brings to the area. I’m not a big fan of some of the public art either. But aside from that godawful talking wall near the fountain in Civic the art is there to look at, which is largely a voluntary action and not something that is too difficult to avoid, if it bugs you that badly.

Well what a surprise two months before an election and they’re at it again attempting to placate disappointed motorsport enthusiasts by dangling the bait in order to secure a handful of votes.

X71 said :

WillowJim said :

F***ing outrageous decision. What public benefit is created by this public spending?

I would say its the same benefit as public art except that people actually like looking at Motorsport as opposed to public art.
The thing is that If you don’t like Motorsport you don’t have to watch it and yet I’m exposed to distasteful displays of so called art on every street corner.

Ok, you pro motorsport ‘fans’ on the RA need to pull your head out of your asses, as you really give your sport a bad name. Your anti-everything-else-that-needs-funding fanaticism is only up there with the NRA.

WillowJim said :

F***ing outrageous decision. What public benefit is created by this public spending?

I would say its the same benefit as public art except that people actually like looking at Motorsport as opposed to public art.
The thing is that If you don’t like Motorsport you don’t have to watch it and yet I’m exposed to distasteful displays of so called art on every street corner.

Comic_and_Gamer_Nerd8:31 pm 19 Aug 12

WillowJim said :

F***ing outrageous decision. What public benefit is created by this public spending?

Exactly. These bogan swine need to be silenced and be happy with what they get.
So many better hints to spend public money on.

F***ing outrageous decision. What public benefit is created by this public spending?

Felix the cat – “Phallic owl”?
I thought it was a maxi pad. Designed for heavy flow months.

How does the “phallic” owl at Belconnen and Gungahlin “Train Wreck” (just two of many examples) benefit anyone except perhaps the “artists” that created them? The cost of these two pieces of “art” exceed what the govt is giving out in motorsport funding. A few less whacky public art structures and the motorsport community could have their funding doubled or tripled and there would still be plenty of art galleries and dance studios for the arty types.

Oh dear, I didn’t get it wrong after all. (sigh)

What happened to the drag strip? It’s a road safety initiative! Get all those white commodores off the streets 🙂
I remember doing one of those physicatric tests where I answered that too much money was spent on art and they told me I answered wrong.
I for one can do without the orange ant in kambah and bus stop Betty on flemington rd in favor of a drag strip at the airport.

Arts or Motorsport clubs shouldn’t recieve Government funding at all.

Umm how much money does the ACT government give the Summer Nats each year?

So, $800K for motorsport.

Can we get a figure for the Stromlo cycling complex? (My gut feeling is that it was about 10x the money).

This pack of wretches have promised serious dollars in the past for motorsport, and reneged every time.

Who on earth would believe one word of they say?

Nothing for our favourite group of motoring enthusiasts, rush hour? A tragedy!!!

Felix the Cat5:29 pm 19 Aug 12

jsm2090 said :

Pffft. Any Government would do the same. I’m involved in ‘the arts’, and also enjoy a bit of motorsport, but the thing the Motorist Party fail to understand is that art isn’t just about looking at paintings- its something that can profoundly benefit the whole community through education and involvement. If you take into account all Canberrans who attend concerts, plays, exhibitions, learn music, teach art, perform dance, I guarantee you it’s a larger percentage of the population.

How does the “phallic” owl at Belconnen and Gungahlin “Train Wreck” (just two of many examples) benefit anyone except perhaps the “artists” that created them? The cost of these two pieces of “art” exceed what the govt is giving out in motorsport funding. A few less whacky public art structures and the motorsport community could have their funding doubled or tripled and there would still be plenty of art galleries and dance studios for the arty types.

Wow that’s actually a lot of money. Average of more than $100k per club, any non-motorsport club would be tickled pink to get so much money. The release also mentions a motorsport fund of $8M. No other sport or even category of sport gets anywhere near that much (except GWS for some reason). I’m sure the actual clubs are very happy with the funding, and as a volunteer in another sport that I can guarantee has more participants, I’m jealous. If they don’t want it I’ll take it.

What would the AMP have said if the government said we are NOT sharing $800K with motor sports clubs?
Answer: Whinged just like they are now…

The media release mentions the figure of $8 million, so what is happening to the other $7.2 million?

Comic_and_Gamer_Nerd12:56 pm 19 Aug 12

Jerry Atric said :

Have I got this wrong? Motorsports lovers are cretins and bogans and would not be seen dead in a museum, theatre or gallery so the funding is being wasted on a minority?

Quoted for truth

Pffft. Any Government would do the same. I’m involved in ‘the arts’, and also enjoy a bit of motorsport, but the thing the Motorist Party fail to understand is that art isn’t just about looking at paintings- its something that can profoundly benefit the whole community through education and involvement. If you take into account all Canberrans who attend concerts, plays, exhibitions, learn music, teach art, perform dance, I guarantee you it’s a larger percentage of the population.

Have I got this wrong? Motorsports lovers are cretins and bogans and would not be seen dead in a museum, theatre or gallery so the funding is being wasted on a minority?

Daily Digest

Want the best Canberra news delivered daily? Every day we package the most popular Riotact stories and send them straight to your inbox. Sign-up now for trusted local news that will never be behind a paywall.

By submitting your email address you are agreeing to Region Group's terms and conditions and privacy policy.