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Victorian government back Aussie GP

The future of the Australian Grand Prix looks a little brighter after the Victorian government reiterated their commitment to the event.

Speculation has been rife that the event could be in jeopardy due to rising costs, with Melbourne mayor Robert Doyle questioning whether the grand prix was good for the city.

"The big stumbling block ... is the cost to the Victorian taxpayer," Doyle wrote in the Herald Sun.

"In 1996 when the race was a combination of a four-day event and corporate sponsorship was far more generous than it is today, the race still needed to be underwritten by about $1.7 million. Last year it was $50 million."

They mayor went on to muse that the event was perhaps not worth the cost to the state and that perhaps Melbourne should walk away from Formula One.

However, the state government has thrown their support behind the Australian Grand Prix.

"The government has supported the grand prix because it is a significant international event which provides branding and tourism value for Victoria," state tourism minister Louise Asher told the AAP.

"In terms of the Baillieu government, we are committed to the grand prix."

Australian Grand Prix chairman Ron Walker admits he has clarified with Bernie Ecclestone that Doyle was not speaking with any authority

"I think he had a misunderstanding as to the role Mr Doyle was playing, because he hasn't met Mr Baillieu [Ted, Victoria Governor] yet," Walker explained.

"He (Mr Ecclestone) has been associated with four premiers since we have had the race, and he was a bit confused as to where the purse strings lay, and he certainly understands that now," he added.

Credit: PlanetF1.com (www.planetf1.com)