Jim Chalmers (Rankin, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Deputy Speaker, no matter your language, your background or your culture, sport has the ability to bring communities together. It is for that reason that I was really pleased to host the World Game Multicultural Festival with SBS and local community groups, two weeks ago. Craig Foster, Jason Culina and David Zdrilic were there at the fields at Griffith University Logan Campus for a friendly soccer game and skills clinic. I want to put on the record of the parliament my appreciation of those guys and of their colleagues.

It is certainly not every day that Logan hosts soccer superstars, playing alongside multicultural teams drawn from the new migrant community. After a day as successful as that, there are lots of people to thank. I want to thank SBS and their team for bringing the former Socceroos to Logan, and for helping to organise the event on the day. I want to thank the parents and the kids and their local high schools. I want to thank Aunty Peggy Tidyman for the acknowledgement of country. I would also like to thank a whole range of local groups and businesses for their contributions on the day—Access Community Services, Griffith University Logan Campus, Logan Metro FC, the TWU, LECNA, Westpac Logan Central, the Brisbane Roar, Football Queensland, Football Brisbane, South Brisbane Futsal Club, and the mighty Rochedale Rovers, and for their support as well.

On a day like today, when the public broadcasters are under attack, it is important that we remember that so many of these broadcasters have a broader role to play in the community. I am proud that SBS plays such a positive role in my community of Logan City, and I commend them for their multicultural soccer day.