Australia’s historic NFL match next month will throw open Victoria’s front doors to global tourism, business, sporting and investment opportunities, Victorian Governor Margaret Gardner predicted amid a whistlestop tour across the United States and Canada.
In an unexpected turn of events, Ms Gardner who travelled to North America at the request of then-Premier Jacinta Allen, was out of the country on the official visit when Ben Carroll assumed the top job last week.
Speaking to the Herald Sun during a visit to the American Australian Association in New York, Ms Gardner said she looked forward to having a “good and productive relationship” with new Premier Mr Carroll who was sworn in by her deputy.
Ordinarily, the Governor would swear in the new Premier but the swift change of leadership meant Lieutenant governor James Angus did the honours.
Ms Gardner said it was ultimately a matter for the government of the day to resolve leadership but she had kept in close contact and would fulfil her duties to advise, counsel and warn.
The Governor embarked on a packed program of engagements across New York and Canada, including meetings on trade and investment opportunities across critical minerals, AI, energy, finance, aerospace and sports.
Ms Gardner said the NFL match at the MCG next month would offer opportunities well beyond sport and tourism.
“It puts Melbourne on the map so people choose to come – they don’t say, ‘oh, that’s a very long plane trip’, they think, ‘I want to go and see that now’,” she said.
“Yes, it helps tourism, but it isn’t just tourism because around that we get business connections and the industries that are around that particular sporting event.”
The game between the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams will kick off at the MCG on September 11.
Ms Gardner visited cities including Denver, New York, San Francisco and Toronto and will return to Australia this week.
“We’re visiting companies that are looking to set up operations in Victoria, or who already have operations in Victoria and might be looking to expand…,” she said of the trip.
“We have a government that’s committed to trying to provide a front door, an investment front door, to simplify their ability to come and expand, and we have a focus on trying to build that future industry capability, because we cannot sit and rely on what are very strong industries that we’ve had for a long time … we also (need to) innovate, but we need to be in those new industry sectors.”