Gai Brodtmann (Canberra, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

It was a big night for Canberra last night. Twenty-two thousand Canberrans braved the cold to pack Canberra Stadium to watch the Brumbies upset the British and Irish Lions 14-12. The Brumbies are the first provincial side to defeat the Lions since 1997 and the first Australian provincial side to defeat the Lions since Queensland in 1971. Many are already saying that this will go down in history as one of the Brumbies' greatest wins.

Of the Canberrans who were not watching the Brumbies, many were glued to the TV watching the Socceroos defeat Iraq and qualify for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Canberrans had their eye on local boy Tom Rogic who, two weeks ago in Australia's 4-0 win against Jordan, provided the assist for captain Lucas Neill's first international goal. Last night, Tom came on in the 61st minute, looking dynamic from his first touch. Tom got his start as a junior with a wonderful club in my electorate, Tuggeranong United. I know that all the players at Tuggeranong were cheering him on last night. Huge congratulations to Tom and all the Socceroos and, of course, to our wonderful Brumbies. Canberra is a very proud city today.

See this speech in context