Steve Irons (Swan, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As you would know, Deputy Speaker, I am the chair of the Australia-Spain Parliamentary Friendship Group. This morning I went to a ceremony to sign a memorandum of understanding on sports cooperation between Spain and Australia, and the Ambassador to Spain, His Excellency Mr Enrique Viguera was there, along with the Minister for Health, Peter Dutton, who was signing the form. I was lucky enough to be presented with a Spanish soccer jumper—

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

Steve Irons (Swan, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I will pass that on to the parliamentary sports group; I will pass it on to Andy Turnbull. Australia and Spain are in group B in the FIFA World Cup. Both teams have lost their games to fellow group B teams, Chile and the Netherlands, and will be eliminated at the conclusion of the group stage. Nevertheless, pride is at stake tomorrow morning when the match between Australia and Spain kicks off at 2 am tomorrow Eastern Standard Time. I am sure plenty of members of parliament will be watching that match tomorrow morning. It is the first time this fixture has ever been played. Unfortunately, Tim Cahill, the scorer of a wonder goal in the Australia-Netherlands game, is suspended for tonight's game. Spain has dominated global football over recent years, having won the last three major tournaments they have competed in—Euro 2008, World Cup 2010 and Euro 2012—but it seems that this run has come to an end.

Mr Randall interjecting—

I hear the member for Canning making a comment about how good they have been. But tonight's match Australia versus Spain is up for grabs. I am sure there will be plenty of passion and spirits, and I say, 'Go Australia' tonight.