funding for the V8 Supercars at Symmons Plains is

not locked in beyond this year, possibly bringing

the event to a grinding halt.

Tourism Minister Michelle O'Byrne said yester

day that the government was committed to the

event's current arrangements, after signing a $1.7

million deal to host the November event until

2013.

However, funding is assessed annually.

It is believed funding for the V8 round _

Tasmania's biggest annual spectator event _

features on a hit-list of event funding that could be

axed leading up to an extremely tight state budget

in June.

``A contract is currently with the company to

stage the 2011 event,'' Ms O'Byrne said.

``Both AVESCO and the state government have

jointly agreed to discuss arrangements for the

subsequent two years.''

The Examiner revealed yesterday that the

government was considering reallocating the

$560,000 a year it spends on the V8s to bring AFL

football to Hobart.

It has outraged motor sport fans.

The V8s attract 60,000 spectators to Symmons

Plains over three days and generate a television

audience of millions.

Launceston Chamber of Commerce chief execu

tive Michael Bailey said Northern Tasmanians had

a right to feel cheated.

``For the state government to make the an

nouncement for a three-year deal and not tie

funding to that is misleading, and it's also unfair

to the businesses who made plans based on the

assumption the event would keep going ahead,'' he

said.

Ms O'Byrne said the V8s were ``in no way

connected to AFL football''.

However, an AFL source confirmed yesterday

that a $1.2 million-a-year deal with North Mel

bourne would be announced within three weeks.

Taxpayers would contribute $300,000 a match

for two Kangaroos games _ the same amount that

is spent annually on the V8s.

Businesses and a consortium of Southern

Tasmanian councils would each chip in a further

$150,000.

The Tourism Industry Council of Tasmania said

it was opposed to funding the games by scrapping

existing events.

``AFL in Hobart is not a priority for the

industry,'' chief executive Luke Martin said.

It is understood that the government is also

considering slashing up to $2 million a year in

tourism marketing funding, at a time when all

other states are increasing it.

``We understand there are difficult financial

times and the government has to make tough

decisions, but tourism is part of the solution,'' Mr

Martin said.

Opposition Leader Will Hodgman called on Ms

O'Byrne to reveal what else was on the chopping

block.

A government spokesman said Labor could not

speculate on budget cuts, because nothing had

been decided.