Page 1340 - Week 05 - Tuesday, 10 May 1994
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
Soccer
MR BERRY: My question is directed to the Deputy Chief Minister in his capacity as Minister for Sport. What does today's announcement by the ACT Soccer Federation mean for ACT soccer?
MR LAMONT: I thank Mr Berry for his question, particularly understanding his abiding commitment to the progress of soccer in the ACT. Madam Speaker, I was extremely pleased to have been asked by the ACT Soccer Federation today to jointly launch the bid by the federation for entry into the Coca-Cola Super League in 1995. That bid, which was announced today, hopefully will see our inclusion as part of the national soccer competition. Such a Canberra team will fill the void that has existed in the elite competitive environment since Canberra last competed in the national league, which was in 1986, and it will also further develop the spectator base for soccer, building on the success of recent events such as the tour of professional Japanese J-League teams in the ACT, the world youth championship matches and the like. These events bring significant economic and tourism benefit to the ACT. Madam Speaker, a team will also provide another opportunity for the corporate sector to get behind and support the ACT through the profile of our elite athletes. With representation from Canberra, the national competition will become stronger and more diverse and, as I have said, a truly national soccer league.
MR BERRY: I ask a supplementary question, Madam Speaker. I wonder whether Mr Lamont would mind repeating this Government's strong commitment to sport, telling us again how we are going to assist sport and, in particular, ACT soccer at its best.
MR LAMONT: I thank Mr Berry for the depth of his supplementary question. Indeed, it is appropriate on the announcement of the bid by the ACT Soccer Federation that I draw the Assembly's attention to the commitment that this Government has to sport in the ACT and in particular to sport promotion in the ACT. The ACT Government has demonstrated an ongoing commitment to sport and a particular interest in the development of soccer. As I have already said, we were actively involved in the staging of the SBS Youth Cup, the World Youth Cup matches, the development of the Kanga Cup and recent visits by Japanese J-League teams.
Madam Speaker, the entrance of a Canberra based team into the national soccer competition has required, quite appropriately, that discussions be entered into between my department and the ACT Soccer Federation on the use of Bruce Stadium. As you are aware, Madam Speaker, Bruce Stadium is currently the home ground for the Bushrangers baseball team and the Raiders rugby league team, and I certainly hope that in 1995 we will be able to announce that it has become the home of one of the best soccer league teams in the national competition, the Canberra Cosmos soccer team.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .