Zaneta Mascarenhas (Swan, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Exciting, modern, professional, world class, magnificent—these are some of the words that have been used to describe the new State Football Centre. It's so professional that, when you walk through the facilities, you would think that you're at the MCG. But it's not the home of cricket, and it's not the home of Australian Rules football. It is the new home of soccer in Western Australia. Jamie Harnwell, the CEO of Football West, and Sherif Andrawes, the chair of Football West, proudly showed me their new home. This has two full-sized FIFA-standard football pitches, amazing sports science facilities and change rooms that have astroturf and little pictures on them so you can strategise as you're getting changed. It's really impressive. It will house 40 full-time staff and 150 part-time coaches and trainers.

These are world-class facilities that are on my doorstep in Queens Park. Queens Park is an amazing neighbourhood and a lovely multicultural neighbourhood. It's 10 kilometres from the CBD of Perth. The thing that's fascinating is that this multicultural electorate loves the multicultural sport of soccer. Soccer is the sport that translates cultures and connects so many people. Young teenage girls were excited to christen the new turf with the new Premier of Western Australia, Roger Cook. I look forward to cheering on Sam Kerr at the centre and joining my community to celebrate this facility.

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