Joanne Ryan (Lalor, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise today to congratulate Melbourne's newest A-League club. The Western Melbourne Group was officially granted a new licence in December last year from the Football Federation Australia to enter the A-League for the 2019-20 season. This morning, they've announced that they'll be called Western United, and they'll wear the great colours of green and black. I know that the member for Gellibrand celebrates, as I do, that we will have an A-League team in the western suburbs of Melbourne, but, as the member for Lalor, knowing that the home for this club will be Tarneit brings joy to my heart. I've never followed the beautiful game. I've never followed football. I now have a club.

I want to congratulate Steve Horvat, Maurice Bisetto, Lou Sticca, Andrew Zinni and, of course, Wyndham City Council's Kate Roffey, who worked tirelessly to secure the licence and prepare a precinct plan that will deliver a boutique stadium in Tarneit in the electorate of Lalor. I want to congratulate the Gillard government and the then minister for infrastructure, Anthony Albanese, for their foresight in delivering a regional rail link that means this precinct can come to life. People from all over the western suburbs, who've come to live there from all over the world, will be able to come to the Tarneit Stadium to watch Western United play the beautiful game—their beautiful game! Kids from all over the west of Melbourne will have something to aspire to. I want to congratulate all involved.