Graham Perrett (Moreton, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Proudly seconded, Deputy Speaker. I am proud to support the motion put forward by the member for Forde. We work together on a unity ticket when it comes to supporting football. I echo his comments about the great work that Football Federation do, not only at the sporting level but also at the community program level, both in health and in reaching out to members of the community who need a helping hand in so many ways.

I will start upfront with the comment about how surprising it is—how much things have changed since I was a kid—that we now have more girls playing football than netball, with all credit to the Football Federation for the great grassroots programs that they have. It has been called the world game in many other countries, but now it is even starting to take on that tone here in Australia. And I say that with all respect to Rugby League, Rugby Union, Aussie Rules and all the other codes. But football is obviously played in more countries around the world, and now the Australian teams can hold their heads up high. Before I became a member of parliament, I had never really kicked a round ball. That changed down on the Senate oval, under the guidance of Senator Stephen Conroy and many other MPs who have changed me from being a Rugby League player to now being a Rugby League player who plays football. I particularly note the member for Forde in his role as goalkeeper; we keep him particularly busy whenever there is a game going on.

In terms of football's international popularity, the FIFA World Cup is the most widely viewed sporting event in the world, exceeding even the Olympic Games. That puts it in context. Here in Australia, football—or soccer—has grown from those humble beginnings to now challenge and even overtake the already well-established football codes of AFL, Rugby Union and Rugby League, as well as netball and the other ball games. It is now the most played outdoor team sport in Australia and ranks in the top 10 for television audiences. A recent audit in 2013 by the sporting authority Gemba found that 1.96 million Australians were actively involved in the game as players. When coaches, referees and families are included, that involvement was around 3.1 million—higher than any other sport in Australia. Roy Morgan polls suggests that, at the junior level, soccer overtook swimming as the most popular sporting activity among Australian kids, with one in two children aged six to 13 now playing. I will say that again: one in two children aged six to 13 are now playing football. Furthermore, this research showed that the number of women playing can only make the code stronger in the future. Soccer players do not just rely on their sheer brute strength, like the other football codes; it is arguably the most graceful of all the codes, which is why it has been called the beautiful game.

My two boys, despite me trying to angle them towards Rugby League, have ended up playing football and they love it. They love it. This year, one of my sons was going to switch to one of the rugby codes but, after I spent a couple of weeks showing him what tackling involved, he decided to stick with soccer for another year. But we might see what happens in the future. I think that is the nature of the modern Australia: that people can go along to an Aussie Rules game but the next day go and see a game of soccer. I see that with the families I deal with in my electorate.

I can only marvel at the top soccer players' skills, but I know that these skills have been refined and improved from the junior level. I see the way that my children are coached. The skills are broken down and it is not just hit or miss; it is very much a methodical approach to imparting these skills. We see it with the Socceroos and the Matildas, who are their heroes as they start their soccer journey by joining their local soccer club.

In my electorate, there are a number of strong and vibrant junior and senior soccer clubs that offer an outlet for players. I mentioned the Olympic Football Club, Oxley United, Tarragindi Tigers, Souths United, El Salvador, Mt Gravatt Hawks, Acacia Ridge,Annerley Recreation, Holland Park Hawks and Brisbane Knights, to name just a few.

Football Federation Australia is to be commended for overseeing the growth of the game at all levels, particularly amongst girls, as well as implementing the many positive community programs which encourage participation. They also give that message about healthy active living and about being an active member of a team, and about integrating with people from different countries—I see that in the clubs that my children play in—and also they boost community spirit.

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