Parliamentary Speeches
Doorstop - Australia Qualifies for World Cup
07 Jun 2009KATE ELLIS: Well today we all celebrate the Socceroos historic qualification for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, and I'd like to take this opportunity to add my congratulations, and the congratulations of the Government to Pim, to all of the boys, and, of course, to the Football Federation of Australia.
Last night's result is incredibly important for the continued growth of football in Australia, and we know that when Australia is out there doing our best to bid for hosting rights of future World Cups that it's very important that we show that we are country that is serious about this game and the Socceroos demonstrated that last night. We're all getting right behind them for their efforts for June next year in South Africa when they take on the best in the world.
If I can just say a few remarks on other matters, obviously, we announced the reshuffle yesterday and I'd like to say that I'm absolutely thrilled to take on the additional responsibility as Minister for Early Childhood Education, Childcare and Youth and the ongoing responsibility for Sport. And that's something that we're very excited about - getting on with the job and hitting the ground running.
I know that there has been a little commentary around from others today and I'd just like to say that I'm delighted about the fact that I've been awarded these additional responsibilities, but I'm also thrilled to be part of a Government which is serious about promoting women. We have a female Deputy Prime Minister; of course, we've appointed Australia's first-ever female Governor General. We have record levels of women both within the Ministry and within Parliament and I'm delighted that we'll be able to carry on in these additional roles as well for long into the future.
JOURNALIST: Do you think there's sufficient, at least sufficient, representation?
KATE ELLIS: I think if you have a look at the number of women in senior positions, the number of women within the Cabinet, and the number of women within the Ministry, it's vastly an increase from what we saw during the previous government or what we see when we look to the Opposition benches. And I'm delighted that I get to work with a Deputy Prime Minister who is such an inspiring woman, in Julia Gillard, that we have a female Governor General for the first time - appointed by this Prime Minister - and that we continue to constantly see increases in the number of women within our side of politics in the Parliament.
JOURNALIST: The New South Wales right faction has done particularly well out of the reshuffle as well. There are some claims that it is fictionally driven, how do you feel about the factional side of things?
KATE ELLIS: Oh look, the Prime Minister's made very clear that these are his decisions. I must say I'm particularly supportive of the decisions that he's made in this regard, but they are his decisions. And I would also say that it's good news for South Australia in that I'm delighted to take on additional responsibilities, but I'm also really pleased to see Mark Butler, the Member for Port Adelaide, taking on the role as Parliamentary Secretary for Health. An additional South Aussie within the executive is a very good result for us.
JOURNALIST: With the Socceroos doing so well, would you like South Australia to have a stadium that is worthy of them playing here locally?
KATE ELLIS: Look I've said all along that I am very keen to continue working with all of the sports and South Australian Government to make sure that if we have a successful bid for the World Cup, that South Australia will play a key role in that and we'll continue working towards that end.
JOURNALIST: Do you think qualification will (inaudible) the bid, the official bid...(inaudible)?
KATE ELLIS: Look I think it's really important that we do everything to show that we are a country that is serious about world football, we're a country that's passionate about it, and we're a country that can have some success in that regard as well. So it is very significant that we now see Australia and the Socceroos take part in the World Cup and that's not going to hurt our chances for a World Cup bid at all.
JOURNALIST: Where does the sport go from here in terms of the A League...(inaudible)?
KATE ELLIS: We know that the A League is in the beginnings of being very successful, the Football Federation of Australia should be congratulated for the work they've put in and I think that we will just continue to see this sport grow and grow at the amazing rate that we're seeing at the moment. It's a very exciting time for the sport and football in this country.