00:00Violence erupted this week, as police and protesters clashed outside the Land Forces
00:08Defence Expo.
00:12But the government is happier with what unfolded inside the convention centre.
00:16It says 10,000 people attended the event, which attracted 1,000 companies from 31 nations.
00:22It says it will generate at least $70 million for the Victorian economy, a benefit even
00:28its critics are on board with.
00:30Any investment in trying to put Victorian industry on the world stage and to sell Victoria
00:36to the world, which is exactly what Land Forces did, is a good investment.
00:40To compare the figure to other major events held in the city, last year's Grand Prix
00:44brought in $268 million, while the Melbourne leg of the T20 Cricket World Cup two years
00:50ago brought in $210 million.
00:53But the Expo's benefit is offset by about $15 million tipped into additional policing.
00:59The state's resources there in terms of police personnel, equipment, was absolutely enormous.
01:05In my opinion, no amount of money really justifies bringing weapons and war profiteering to our
01:11doorstep.
01:12It's still unclear how much it cost the state to secure the event, the government citing
01:17a confidentiality agreement, but it says it's continuing to work with organisers on the
01:21next event two years from now.
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