Burswood race track: Patrick Gorman calls on WA Labor to rethink controversial $217m project

The Cook Government’s controversial $217 million racetrack and entertainment precinct at Burswood is now being opposed by one of its very own — Anthony Albanese’s right-hand man in Perth, Patrick Gorman. Mr Gorman, the local Federal MP, told The Sunday Times he does not support the project, imploring his State colleagues to not proceed with the racetrack. His opposition to the project is a major blow to any hope Mr Cook might have had that the Prime Minister kick in some Federal funding. “I am hopeful they will listen to my electorate of Perth and address the extensive community concerns about the proposed Burswood racetrack,” Mr Gorman said on Saturday. “It is no surprise to anyone that as the Member for Perth my long-standing and firm view is that the Burswood racetrack should not proceed. “As a local member I have heard extensive concerns from local constituents and community groups about the significant loss of amenity, environmental impacts and impacts on future housing developments.” The Burswood project is one of $3.4 billion of election promises made by Labor in the lead-up to the March poll. The Cook Government first floated the idea of a “world-class motorsport street circuit” next to Optus Stadium in 2024. The idea was promoted as taking V8s take to the streets around Burswood “as the highlight of a new motorsports festival”. In June last year, Mr Cook’s office said the idea for the circuit had stemmed from a meeting between Supercars and Mr Cook in early 2023 when the Premier was tourism minister, and was again resurrected during the 2025 State election campaign. Mr Gorman told The Sunday Times there were concerns about the project from the beginning. “These concerns started immediately after the election commitment was announced and have amplified since the release of the consultation report,” he said. But a spokesperson for Mr Cook claimed on Saturday the Burswood project had significant support from nearby residents and groups. “The consultation process resulted in hundreds of residents and 90 groups being engaged,” the spokesperson said. “In total, 76 per cent of all contributions provided positive ideas towards the project.” It’s understood Mr Gorman — a former WA Labor state secretary whose Perth electorate includes suburbs abutting Burswood like Maylands, East Perth, Claisebrook and Mt Lawley — has also instituted polling on the issue. Mr Cook and Treasurer Rita Saffioti have had to defend the project claiming it was more than a racetrack, and includes a 20,000-seat amphitheatre for concerts and the like. A Save Burswood Alliance has now been formed, and the State Opposition is demanding the racetrack be scrapped and the money used on urgent spending in health. On Saturday, Mr Cook, through a spokeswoman, returned fire at Mr Gorman, suggesting he spend his time fighting for the interests of WA in Canberra. “While we are always interested in the views of our Federal representatives, we think it would be most appropriate for Mr Gorman to spend his time in Canberra helping us to secure WA’s fair share of infrastructure spending and aged care beds,” the spokeswoman said. The Premier’s spokeswoman also claimed Mr Gorman had some of his facts wrong in a recent letter to the Government about the project. “For example, Mr Gorman asserted the precinct was being developed for numerous motorsport events — that’s wrong,” she said. “In fact, it will host one Supercars event a year, with the precinct being available for a range of other community events throughout the rest of the year, including cycling, as well as concerts at the new amphitheatre. “Mr Gorman also incorrectly suggested there would be a loss of urban canopy and green space, when our plan will actually see an increase in the number of trees and natural amenity.” Shortly after the election, which Labor convincingly won, Mr Cook strongly suggested he hoped the Prime Minister would help fund the racetrack/entertainment project as part of a list of priorities for WA. “My Government has recently committed over $330m across sporting and recreation projects, notwithstanding the $217m to further develop Perth’s Burswood Peninsula into a world-class sport and entertainment precinct,” Mr Cook said in May. “We know that the Commonwealth likes to be engaged in large sporting infrastructure projects, and we’d like them to look to Western Australia as well.” But Mr Cook’s spokeswoman on Saturday said the Cook Government was “not seeking Federal government funding for this project.”