By Ben Reid and Jeremy Smith
MELBOURNE — On July 14, members of Save Albert Park held a demonstration to highlight the lies and broken promises of the Victorian government and the Australian Grand Prix Corporation (AGPC) over the extent of disruption that would be caused by the Grand Prix.
Seventeen protesters occupied the so-called temporary pit buildings, while 100 marched and rallied outside. The AGPC claimed that the buildings would be converted for use as an indoor sports facility within four weeks of the race. Four months later, the buildings remain unused.
Extensive research compiled by SAP describes the slow pace of efforts to restore the park to something near pre-race conditions. SAP's "Summary of Post-Race Report" concludes that "the legislated 17 week occupation of the park by AGPC was clearly insufficient for them. 'Only four days a year' appears to be perhaps understated by nine months."
Also on July 14, the Victorian ALP leader John Brumby announced that the party was withdrawing its support for SAP. He said that Labor "had always supported the Grand Prix coming to Melbourne" and that, as far as Albert Park is concerned, "the race has been held there, has been held successfully, is supported now overwhelmingly by Victorians and I think we have to accept that".
Brumby couched the betrayal in terms of a new search for the "middle ground" of politics in Victoria. This confirms Labor's real stance all along
On the basis of the ALP's stated support for SAP's aims and objectives, SAP invested some effort and resources in campaigning against the Coalition before the state election. Brumby's latest statement sets Labor unambiguously in the same camp as the government on the issues of privatisation, City Link and Albert Park. It must dissolve any illusions that the ALP is a friend of the movements against Kennett.