Jessica Collins (NSW, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Rugby in Australia is more than a game. It is part of our identity and community. Nowhere is that more evident than in the growth of women's rugby. Since the first New South Wales women's team was formed in 1994, the Wallaroos have gone from strength to strength. They are now competing at the highest levels, inspiring a new generation of girls and young women to believe that they, too, can run out in the green and gold.

Over the weekend, the Wallaroos took to the field against Samoa in what was a powerful and symbolic contest. As an Australian, I was of course proud to cheer for our Wallaroos, but this match was about far more than the final scoreline. For the first time, it was broadcast free to air, giving young girls in Sydney, Samoa, Suva and beyond the chance to see women competing at the highest level. That visibility matters. If you can see it, you can dream it. For too long, women's sport has been hidden in the shadows.

This fixture between the Wallaroos and Samoa also highlighted the deep bonds we share with our Pacific neighbours. Rugby has always been one of the strongest cultural connections between Australia and our neighbours. In Samoa, Tonga and Fiji, rugby isn't just entertainment; it's nationhood, identity and pride. For many of our Pacific neighbours, their national rugby teams embody the strength and hopes of their people. When Australia plays these nations, it is more than competition. It is a celebration of friendship, mutual respect and the ties that bind us across the Pacific.

I had the privilege of recently meeting with Peter Murphy, the chief executive officer of NSW Rugby Union. His passion for the game and his vision for the future was inspirational. He spoke about the scale of rugby in New South Wales, where more than 100,000 players are registered—over 56 per cent of the national participant base. That makes New South Wales rugby the powerhouse of Australian rugby. From the Shute Shield to the Jack Scott Cup, from suburban clubs to country competitions, rugby in this state is a vast ecosystem of players, coaches, referees and volunteers. I wish the players all the very best this Saturday in the Shute Shield. I'll be there to cheer you on; it's going to be a great battle.

What is just important, however, is that rugby in New South Wales is not confined to elite competition. Rugby is about building inclusive communities, creating pathways for women and girls and ensuring the game reaches every corner of our state—from Newcastle to Dubbo, from the Illawarra to Western Sydney. Through initiatives such as the Rugby for Good program, the game is being used to improve health and wellbeing, provide opportunities for young people and strengthen community connections. In 2024 alone, $1.1 million was invested into Rugby for Good initiatives. That is evidence of a code that understands its social responsibility and is acting on it.

Australians of course love a World Cup. We saw it with the FIFA Women's World Cup last year, which was a watershed moment for women's sport in this country. We will see it again with the men's Rugby World Cup hosted here in 2027. But let me say this very clearly: this is a warm-up act. The real showstopper will be the 2029 Women's Rugby World Cup right here in Australia. That tournament has the potential to transform women's rugby forever, leaving a legacy in participation, visibility and recognition that will endure for generations.

When we talk about sport we often focus on wins and losses, but the true power of sport lies in its ability to unite. Rugby has always carried political and social power. It goes beyond divisions of language, culture and geography. In the Pacific, rugby is as much about diplomacy as it is about competition. It builds bridges, it fosters respect and it reminds us of our shared values.

I stand here today in strong support of women's rugby because, when our Wallaroos take the field, they are representing far more than a national side. They represent progress, they represent opportunity and they represent the enduring spirit of our Pacific family. Above all, they show every young girl in this country that the future of rugby and the future of sport is theirs to shape.

Senate adjourned at 19:54