Emma McBride (Dobell, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am very pleased to join the member for Lalor in congratulating the Australian Netball Diamonds on their four-nil clean sweep of the Constellation Cup after a convincing 16-point win over the New Zealand Silver Ferns, 58 to 42, in Sydney. This is the Diamonds' first Constellation Cup clean sweep in four years and only their second since the annual home-and-away test series against New Zealand, our fiercest rivals, was launched in 2010. A shout-out to MVP, wing-attack Liz Watson—a real team player—on an outstanding match. Aussie captain Caitlen Bassett said post match that the squad wanted to make a headache for coach Lisa Alexander and the selectors—and they have—leading into next year's Commonwealth Games.

As a kid who grew up playing netball at Baker Park in Wyong and a very proud patron of the Wyong District Netball Association and the Central Coast Heart—the only regional club in the Netball NSW Premier League—I would like to thank Netball Australia for the opportunity to be courtside in Sydney. I would also like to acknowledge Rodney Watson and Louise Sullivan, directors of Netball NSW—your passion for our game is palpable. The future of our game in New South Wales is in good hands.

Our female athletes are leading the world—the Matildas, the Opals and the Australian women's cricket team—and these female athletes deserve recognition and support to participate and complete, from grassroots to internationals. Congratulations to the Aussie Diamonds.