Matt Burnell (Spence, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I might have dwelled a little longer on the State of Origin had the result been slightly different, but that's old news now. The sporting event that we should all be getting behind is one that will be right in our backyard in less than one month's time. Unlike with the State of Origin, we can all join together as one and get behind our Matildas as they compete to win the FIFA Women's World Cup on home soil. Sam Kerr will swap her Chelsea kit—I must say I'm a Chelsea fan; go Sam!—to lead the Matildas out to face their group B opponents: the Republic of Ireland, Nigeria and Canada. I want them to know they will have the whole of Australia cheering them on from the stands and on screens, small and large, across the nation.

Football truly is the world game, and the importance of securing major events like these can't be understated. Cities flood with people from across the globe to see their teams give their all on the world stage. I'm pleased that my home state of South Australia will see four group-stage games and a game in the round of 16 knockouts, all from Cooper Stadium in Hindmarsh, which I'm sure the member for Adelaide will be looking forward to. Those four group matches will showcase South Australia, as fans from China, Haiti, England, Panama, Brazil, South Korea, Morocco and more show their true colours and enjoy the sights and flavours that make Adelaide the best place in Australia to be.