Richard Colbeck (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance and Administration) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Today I have great pleasure in talking about a very historic event that occurred earlier today in my home state of Tasmania, where Tasmania won the Pura Cup final, defeating New South Wales by 421 runs.

George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Minister for the Arts and Sport) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Brandis interjecting—

Richard Colbeck (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance and Administration) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I should say the Sheffield Shield. I will take your interjection, Senator Brandis; I am a bit of a traditionalist.

John Faulkner (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

How many times has Tasmania won it? That would be the first time, would it?

Richard Colbeck (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance and Administration) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We won it today for the first time in history—

Honourable Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

John Hogg (Queensland, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Colbeck, ignore the interjections and refer your comments to the chair.

Richard Colbeck (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance and Administration) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

after 25 years in the competition. I do pay tribute to New South Wales for a magnificent effort in reaching the final. It is the world’s premier competition on a national level and I think it is a great achievement for the Tasmanian team to have won the final today. It was a great effort by New South Wales. It was a very strong competition.

I want to pay particular tribute to the Tasmanian team, coached by Tim Coyle, captained by Dan Marsh and compromising Michael DiVenuto, Tim Paine, Michael Dighton, Travis Birt, George Bailey, Sean Clingeleffer, Luke Butterworth, Damien Wright, Adam Griffith, Ben Hilfenhaus and the 12th man, Brendan Drew. Luke Butterworth, in his first season in the competition, won the Man of the Match award, and it was terrific to see the side making such a significant contribution to the efforts this year.

Of course, over the 25 years of the competition there have been a number of players who really have helped build the Tasmanian side. I remember when I was much younger watching ‘Flat Jack’ Simmons lead the side to a 47-run win over Western Australia in the Gillette Cup. Those players who helped Tasmania build the strength of the team certainly deserve credit and brought on players like David Boon, Jamie Cox, Shaun Young and many others, including of course the Australian captain, Ricky Ponting, who today is defending the world cup in the Caribbean. They are great players that have been developed as part of the growth of cricket in Tasmania. David Boon and Jamie Cox are now Tasmanian selectors.

John Faulkner (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Jamie Cox is a national selector.

Richard Colbeck (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance and Administration) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You are right; I will take your interjection, Senator Faulkner. Both David Boon and Jamie Cox are Australian selectors, not Tasmanian selectors.

Michael Forshaw (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Forshaw interjecting—

John Hogg (Queensland, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Senator Forshaw, this is a serious matter.

Richard Colbeck (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance and Administration) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It is a serious matter for Tasmania, Mr Deputy President; I thank you for your defence. I am very pleased that Tasmania has made this significant contribution to its sporting history, and I congratulate all of those involved: the players, the supporters of the team and, of course, the Tasmanian Cricket Association.