News Corp’s Herald Sun hosted a launch event for a Future Victoria campaign in partnership with the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) in Melbourne last Friday. Speaking at the opening at the end of Cup Week, the editor of Australia’s largest-selling newspaper Sam Weir told guests: “This is the only lunch being held in Melbourne this week without a betting slip on the table, a TAB booth in the corner or a fashion parade.”
Weir thanked the news brand’s principal partners in the campaign – Crown and supporting partners John Holland and Transurban. Senior executives from all three companies were also in the room with the new Crown chief executive Ciaran Carruthers speaking about the company’s ambitious plans for its Melbourne refurbishment.
Special edition of Herald Sun looking at Victoria in 2030
The Herald Sun editor also noted the talent the event had attracted to speak on a panel about future plans for the state – Carruthers who was joined by HWT chairman Penny Fowler and Visit Victoria’s Janet Whiting.
Also speaking to the guests about plans for the state were Victorian Treasurer Tim Pallas and state Opposition leader Matthew Guy.
Weir continued: “For the past couple of years there have been times when it felt like the odds were stacked against Victoria. With Covid we endured a period unlike any in our post-war history. But positivity is returning and thankfully the kind of positivity that doesn’t involve a RAT Test and 14 days stuck at home.
“Despite the dark days of Covid, Melbourne is now on track to overtake Sydney as Australia’s biggest city in 2030. The last time we held that title was in the four decades before federation driven by the Gold Rush.
“As Bernard Salt points out in a great piece in today’s [Friday] paper, the driver this is time is Melbourne and Victoria’s liveability, opportunity and self-confidence.
“In the special edition, we have 30 bold and innovative ideas to take Melbourne and Victoria forward.
Panellists talking Future Victoria: Crown Resorts CEO Ciaran Carruthers, Herald and Weekly Times Chairman Penny Fowler, Chair of Visit Victoria Janet Whiting and Paul Guerra Chief Executive VCCI
Together at last for Future Victoria – Foxtel’s Brian Walsh and the AFL’s Brian Walsh
“That is what the Future Victoria campaign is about – supercharging our capital city and state’s revival. Today and over the next week in the Herald Sun, Future Victoria will examine the opportunities we must embrace and the challenges we will no doubt face between now and 2030.
“Melbourne and Victoria will be bigger…but we also must be better. The best possible place to start to invest in a business, to bring up a family and to live, work and play.”
HWT’s Sam Weir and Penny Fowler with Peter Zavecz
The lunch event was held at Zinc at Federation Square and was organised by Peter Zavecz, managing director, Victoria and Tasmania Publishing, News Corp Australia and his marketing and product team.
Top photo: Guests at the Future Victoria launch event: Herald Sun Editor Sam Weir, Paul Guerra Chief Executive VCCI, Chair of Visit Victoria Janet Whiting, Leader of the Opposition Matthew Guy, Treasurer of Victoria Tim Pallas, Herald and Weekly Times Chairman Penny Fowler, Former Victorian Premier Dr Denis Napthine and Crown Resorts CEO Ciaran Carruthers. Picture: David Caird/Herald Sun
See also: Turning 30 – Rupert Murdoch and Penny Fowler on Herald Sun anniversary