Scott Buchholz (Wright, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

My question goes to the minister who has auspices over the Sports portfolio. Like the minister, as Queenslanders we have an intrinsic love of sport. Sport is as much a part of our identity and culture as are mangoes and the scent of Wally Lewis! Sport is one of those unique functions in our community that has the ability to bind communities together. It has the capacity to bind nations together. On a more global scale, when you look at the Olympic Games or the Commonwealth Games, sport in its entirety has the capacity to cut through religious beliefs, where they are put aside, and it has the capacity to cut through political ideologies, whether they be the most radical parallels or juxtaposed positions. Sport is a common denominator that can bring communities from around the world together to unite on a single stage to compete for a solid goal.

In my community, sport is one of the magnets that holds a community together, whether it is the juniors at a swimming club or, more relevant in my area, a local pony club where people will travel for kilometres to attend, whether it is the emerging success of soccer, rugby league or AFL, or whether it is the State of Origin. It is the eve of the State of Origin. I think the Queenslanders have won seven series and we are going for eight. Tomorrow is the decider. There is the Melbourne cup which stops the nation. Sport is one of those binding agents in a community which brings us altogether.

In Queensland we are proud of some of the sporting success stories that we have: Susie O'Neill, Kieren Perkins and Grant Hackett; in generations before, Greg Norman, Pat Rafter and Allan Border. The list is endless. More local to my electorate, I am proud to say that Cathy Freeman, Adam Scott, Jason Day all attended Kooralbyn International School and Hills International School within my electorate. It is always wonderful to receive those personalities back in the electorate and it does electrify the youth of my community.

Sport and participation in community sports groups is a significant part of life in my electorate. Evidence of this is the number of clubs and individuals who apply for the local sporting heroes grants through my office. It is a great boost when a kid picks up an extra 500 bucks or a sporting group picks up a couple of thousand dollars. As a community, we get behind those groups and give them a little leg up to be able to compete on a stage when they may not have had the capacity themselves.

Closer to home, not too far from my community, just bordering up to me at Mudgeeraba, in 2018 we will have the great privilege of hosting the Commonwealth Games. Not only will it mean an unprecedented amount of international attention for the Gold Coast; it is a region that will inspire young athletes from my electorate to strive towards competing at that games in four years time. The commercial benefit that will flow from that will be enormous not only in my electorate but also right throughout Queensland and the nation.

The Commonwealth Games are an iconic event on the sporting calendar, coming around every four years in unison with the Olympics. The Commonwealth Games will bring a host of celebrities to the Gold Coast, where they will be treated to some sights that will make us as a nation proud.

But to the point: Minister, could you outline to the House the government's commitment to the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games and how as a federal government we will be doing everything in our power to host those identities and ensure that their stay here in Australia is a most memorable one?

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