Shayne Neumann (Blair, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Congratulations to the Melbourne Demons for taking out the 2022 AFLW premiership in a close grand final at Springfield in Ipswich yesterday afternoon. Commiserations to my team, and the minor premiers, the Brisbane Lions.

Yesterday was the opening of the $82 million Brighton Homes Arena. The Premier of Queensland was there, The Speaker and local MP, Milton Dick, and the federal Minister for Sport, Anika Wells, were also there. We were all proudly cheering on the Brisbane Lions before a sell-out crowd. This state-of-the-art stadium is jointly funded by the federal and Queensland government's, the Ipswich City Council, the AFL and the Brisbane Lions and private partners, including Springfield City Group. It shows what can be done when we all work together.

I recall announcing the federal $15 million in the May budget of 2013 with the member for Ballarat. I want to particularly congratulate Greg Swann, the CEO of the Brisbane Lions, and I give a big shout-out to the former chair, Bob Sharpless. This would not have happened without you, Bob. You made a great effort. Your tireless work has brought this about.

The stadium is the culmination of years of work and is the new home for the AFL team, the Brisbane Lions. It will be the training ground for the men's and women's team and the home ground facility for the women's team. It will also house Multicultural Australia, for the growing multicultural communities in the eastern suburbs and across Ipswich. It's a world-class arena and is earmarked as a potential 2032 Olympics and major concert site.

Congratulations, Brisbane Lions!