Vic: Vizard to replace Walker at major events helm

AAP General News (Australia)
04-02-2001
Vic: Vizard to replace Walker at major events helm

Premier STEVE BRACKS has announced the appointment of businessman STEVE VIZARD as the
replacement for RON WALKER as chief of the Victorian Major Events Company.

Mr WALKER, who bought $3.6 billion of events to Melbourne, says he classes Mr VIZARD
as his best possible replacement.

Mr WALKER says he left the job with some regrets, that he won't be around to bid, if
the government wished to, for the 2010 World Cup soccer finals.

He says to spend $20 million of taxpayers' money pursuing an event like the World Cup
is now a matter for Mr VIZARD to decide.

The Melbourne Major Events Company was created in April 1991 by former Labor premier
JOAN KIRNER, who named Mr WALKER the company's first chairman.

During his time he was attributed with bringing to Melbourne the 1992 World Cup cricket
final, the Three Tenors Concert in 1997 and the Commonwealth Games in 2006.

Mr WALKER has recently resigned from the chair of the federal government's Business
Arts Foundation, and has ended a 15-year reign as federal treasurer of the Liberal Party.

AAP RTV cmc/clr/rsm

KEYWORD: WALKER (MELBOURNE)

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