Gippsland advocacy group, One Gippsland, is calling on the Victorian Government to assist the region in recovering from the loss of the annual Phillip Island Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix event.
Mayor of Bass Coast Shire and Member of One Gippsland Councillor, Rochelle Halstead said the loss of MotoGP has left a gap that will reverberate across the whole regional economy.
“For nearly 30 years, the MotoGP has been one of the biggest drivers of visitation and economic activity in Gippsland,” Mayor Halstead said.
One Gippsland Chair and Mayor of South Gippsland Shire, Nathan Hersey, said a new plan was needed to maintain the region’s leading destination status.
“When an event of that scale is lost, we are not just losing bikes off a track, we are losing many economic multipliers that impact businesses, small and large and are facing a deficit of global attention that has drawn international visitors to Gippsland,” he said.
Independent analysis shows the MotoGP event contributed $54.6 million in economic benefit to Victoria, including $29.4 million in direct local expenditure, supporting 284 jobs and generating $37.1 million in global media exposure.
“For a region that plays a critical role in keeping Victoria fed and powered, the loss of an event with this level of economic reach has consequences well beyond the track. Gippsland deserves a serious plan to replace what has been taken,” Mayor Hersey said.
“This is the last state budget before the election, and State spending decisions today, can absolutely shape what the next few years will look like for the Gippsland economy.
“There’s an opportunity here to respond to the loss of MotoGP with a clear plan for what comes next and Gippsland is well placed to work with the government on solutions.”
One Gippsland has prepared a pre-budget submission for consideration by the State Government and Opposition.
A key plank in the submission is ‘The Destination Gippsland: Tourism, Culture & Country Investment Package’ which sets out a pathway to activate major events, cultural tourism and nature-based experiences into a unified growth strategy. Key priorities include:
- Securing a new major, internationally recognised anchor event for Phillip Island;
- Expanding the Gippsland Regional Events Fund (Stage 2) to drive year-round visitation and overnight stays;
- Investing in First Nations cultural tourism, including the Nanjet Gunaikurnai Cultural Tourism Project (Gunya Yanakie – Nanjet Brataualung); and
- Strengthening nature-based tourism infrastructure to improve the visitor experience.
The package is designed to grow visitation, extend length of stay and support regional jobs while promoting and protecting the natural and cultural assets that underpin Gippsland’s appeal.
“We’re not starting from scratch. Gippsland has all the fundamentals to continue to be a world-class destination,” Mayor Hersey said.
“This Budget is an opportunity to make sure regional economies like ours are well positioned for the next lap around the sun.
“With the right investment, Gippsland can not only recover from this loss, but come back stronger.”
The One Gippsland 2026–27 Pre-Budget Submission outlines coordinated investment priorities for the region.
The members of One Gippsland are: Bass Coast Shire Council, Baw Baw Shire Council, Destination Gippsland, East Gippsland Shire Council, Federation University, Food and Fibre Gippsland, Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation, Latrobe City Council, South Gippsland Shire Council, TAFE Gippsland and Wellington Shire Council.
