July 1, 2026 — 6:25pmLeaked documents reveal more than $30 million has been spent bringing sporting spectacles to Perth, prompting a rebuke from WA Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas over the government’s tourism budget.However, Tourism Minister Reece Whitby has defended the spent, maintaining the government’s strategy returned $2.80 per dollar outlaid on tourism during the 2024/25 financial year.WA Liberal leader Basil Zempilas.Getty ImagesDocuments unearthed by 9News Perth and Business News revealed the purchasing figures from the state government paid to bring several major events to Perth, including $13 million so far paid for Rugby World Cup games in Perth next year.The top-10 events brought to the state over the 12-month period cost the state $33 million, with last year’s soccer match between AC Milan and Perth Glory costing more than $4 million.Premier Roger Cook said the leaked event spend figures did not line up with the numbers the state government had, but defended investing in major sporting events coming to WA.“Our numbers don’t line up immediately with those numbers, I’m not quite sure what those numbers are about,” he said.“What it does demonstrate is that we are backing great major events that continue to contribute to the economy.“In 24/25 it brought over $180 million into the economy, supporting our hospitality industry, supporting our tourism industry, and it’s an important part of what we’re doing to diversify the economy by continuing to grow our hospitality and tourism sectors.”Zempilas has long called for transparency from the government on the amount spent on attracting major events to the state.At a recent Leadership Matters breakfast event, the member for Churchlands outlined a list of policies the party would bring to the 2029 state election, including event transparency.“We love the big events, but we still don’t know how much it cost us to bring Coldplay to Perth,” Zempilas said at the time.“It was our money. We should know not when the deal’s been done, not when we’re out there in the market competing, but at the end of the event, once it’s all been said and done, the commercial in confidence line should no longer hold up.”However, at a press conference on Wednesday, Whitby said the government disclosed its expenditure every year.“Well, we do have that disclosure every year in the annual report that shows the amount we have in our event attraction fund, and the return we have to the state,” he said.“It was $187 million in 24-25 that came back to the state.“It was a return on investment of about $2.80 for every dollar spent, and that’s a good thing for Western Australia.”Zempilas said West Australians didn’t begrudge major events, but called the Cook government arrogant and claimed Treasurer Rita Saffioti had a free rein in spending.“What [West Australians] begrudge is a government that can always find millions for another event while refusing to tell taxpayers the real cost, all at a time when people are struggling to find a home, patients are waiting for a hospital bed and regional services are under pressure,” he said.“This is no longer the Cook government’s major events strategy. It’s Rita Saffioti’s major events strategy, and no one – not even the premier – appears willing or able to stop her.“This is an arrogant third-term government that every few weeks writes another cheque for another event, makes another announcement and hides the cost from taxpayers.Khoa Ngo of Perth Glory tackles Samuel Chukwueze of AC Milan in an exhibition match last year.Getty Images“$13 million for Rugby World Cup matches. More than $4 million for a pre-season soccer friendly in front of 19,000 fans. At what point does someone in government say to Rita Saffioti, enough is enough?”Whitby said it was in the government’s best interest to keep spending details under wraps until an appropriate time to prevent other states from securing major events.“Now, what Basil Zempilas is proposing is akin to walking into a home open and saying to everyone at that home open with an interest in buying that home what he is prepared to pay for it,” he said.“If you do say what you’re prepared to pay, every single person in that home knows how to gazump you by paying more, so you either miss out totally on the deal or you have to pay well over the odds to beat everyone else.“There’s a rigorous process that every event has a net gain for Western Australia, and as you see, the annual reporting at the end of the year shows that the amount of money coming into the state far exceeds the investment we make.”Saffioti’s office was contacted for comment, but the treasurer is currently on leave.Whitby said the WA Government does not disclose how much is spent on each individual event as it is commercial in confidence.“This is vital to securing major events and remaining competitive among other Australian states and countries across the world,” he said.“All event proposals and agreements are subject to a rigorous feasibility assessment to ensure the funding amount is appropriate and the event delivers strong economic return on investment through visitation, length of stay and visitor spend.”From our partners