Mark Arbib (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Social Housing and Homelessness) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Xenophon for the question and also for his interest. I think that all senators would agree that Australia would have been a fantastic host for the 2022 world cup, and Australia's bid was of the highest quality. It was an impressive bid; there is no doubt about it. It would have been a fantastic boost to tourism, it would have been a fantastic boost to business and it certainly would have been a fantastic boost to our sports infrastructure. The debate around the funding of a new stadium in Western Australia, an upgrade of Adelaide Oval and stadium upgrades in Geelong and Blacktown would have been much improved and funding would certainly have been contributed from winning a world cup bid.

Like all football fans, I am disappointed about the allegations that were made in Britain this week. We strongly believe that all bids should be judged on their merits. The Australian government had an expectation that any bid conducted on behalf of a national football association was done with the utmost integrity. Senators would be aware of the news that former UK Football Association chairman Lord Triesman told a Department for Culture, Media and Sport committee in the UK that four FIFA members sought bribes in return for backing England's failed 2018 world cup bid. It was also alleged that evidence supplied by the Sunday Times newspaper claimed that two more FIFA executive committee members were paid nearly £1 million to vote for Qatar's bid.

Speaking at the House of Commons on Tuesday, Lord Triesman said that he would now take his evidence to FIFA, and I welcome that. At the same time, we need to keep at the forefront of our minds that these are allegations. They have not yet been proven and they need to be investigated. The Australian government welcomes FIFA's announcement that it will be investigating allegations surrounding the bidding process. I also agree with the British minister that the Swiss authorities should consider legal action against FIFA for accepting members— (Time expired)