“Australian Open is more important than any one player” – Rafael Nadal

Couldn’t have said it any better myself.

OK, it is all done and dusted and we know who has left the building. Now one of Melbourne’s major events can finally get underway.

As part of the ongoing discussion over the last week, one of the surprising areas has been the supposed irreparable damage to Victorian’s ongoing Major Events and events in general.

Comments have included:

• Our international reputation is permanently damaged
• We could lose the Australian Open
• Why would anyone come to Australia for an event when this is what you get

Blame game aside let’s get down to what we are really talking about. This issue was all related to one person who wants to be treated differently to everyone else. It just happened to be a high-profile person which accentuated the issue and drove the media frenzy.

What the discussion is not about is whether Melbourne can’t stage major events, or has lost its ability to do.

Melbourne is not about the loose the Grand Prix, the AFL Grand Final, Melbourne Cup, theatre productions like Moulin Rouge or the next winter masterpieces. It is not as if events in the pipeline have suddenly dried up and organisers are not returning calls.

Every event organiser knows the rules and works within them to stage their events. They all now know if any event participant such as a formula one driver or AFL footballer does a “Novak” then they will be fully aware of the consequences. In a way the end result has reinforced Melbourne and Australia as an even safer destination to hold your event, which will not be lost on those watching from afar.

It is hard enough for the events industry anyway right now without others jumping on predicting doom and gloom. I was surprised to see some of the responses but then that is the view from their perspectives.

All the research still says Melbourne and Victoria is in demand as an events destination. The current issue we all have now is gaining access, but that will slowly change as our response to COVID 19 does.

How about we all get over the distraction and get out there and focus on supporting the Victorian events industry – and every other event in Australia for that matter.