Page 4898 - Week 11 - Thursday, 21 October 2010
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really important and will help provide another compelling reason for people to visit this city.
Just as importantly, AFL is a sport that is loved by the Canberra community. Many thousands take part in local competitions, school-based carnivals and, increasingly, a large number of women and girls are participating. And that is fantastic to see. This year we saw 14,000 spectators jammed in to watch a fantastic match between the Bulldogs and the Swans. It was watched by a national TV audience of over half a million people. In short, the AFL’s future in the ACT, I think, is looking very bright and it is important that we take advantage of this opportunity for the tourism and economic benefits that it will bring to our city.
We have noted that the environment for clubs selling matches has changed. The renegotiation of stadium agreements in Melbourne has meant Victorian-based clubs are less likely to want to sell matches interstate. The costs of running AFL teams are considerable. I am advised it is around $30 million a year. This city, in and of itself, does not have an economic base, I think, large enough to sustain a team in our own right; so this partnership with GWS is the perfect solution for a city of our size.
We have continued our discussions with the AFL in the last few weeks to finalise this. We have explored extensively over a two-year period how the ACT can be part of the new team and what that team can offer the ACT community. I think there is agreement across the board now that we can have a genuine stake in this new club.
I would like to take this opportunity to commend GWS for the great faith they have shown in the Canberra community. One of their earliest recruits is young Josh Bruce, and GWS is providing a potential for Josh and no doubt many other Canberra-based AFL players to fulfil their AFL dreams. There is now a very clear pathway for juniors to come through the ranks in the ACT, the ability for a second-tier competition and for GWS to be involved. For that to include Canberra clubs, I think, is very exciting. Obviously a lot of the focus will be on the elite level but we need to recognise the pathway and the opportunities that are there for young footballers who might be in under 10s this year to see that there is the possibility, if they practise hard, keep fit and learn the skills of the game, that their career could take them all the way to the elite level.
Under the leadership of Peter Taylor and countless other prominent players and activists in local football circles, there is no doubt that this campaign has been a great success. I understand that the strong support that has been enlisted from the licensed club sector and many local companies has been critical in convincing those who are doing the sums in Sydney that this is going to work. We have seen a really important campaign run through the local media, with local players and AFL fans demonstrating their support. We all have a shared desire to see the national game played in the national capital.
As people have alluded to, I am indeed a passionate Hawthorn supporter. It is not that often that I will take out membership of another football club but I was very proud to be one of the very first to sign up to GWS, to act for GWS.
Mr Hargreaves: Some Hawthorn supporter you turned out to be.
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