Grand Prix, Supercars 500: private gain, public pain

State governments continue to push car racing events as a tourism strategy that brings huge benefits for state economies. While the visitor numbers themselves are extremely unreliable, what is never included in the conjuring up of the miraculous figures is the huge costs these events put on taxpayers and the local community.

Vast amounts of public money fund these events. Public land is alienated from public use for long periods of time. Local small businesses and residents suffer negative economic and environmental impacts and the supposed benefits from tourism are never validated.

Urban motor racing events are a prime example of the subterfuge of major event promoters in the name of the visitor economy. The Grand Prix, in…