Mr NINOS KHOSHABA (Smithfield) [6.21 p.m.]: On 21 June I attended a gala ball for Deaf Football Australia at Club Marconi in Bossley Park in my electorate. It was a fantastic evening and an event not to be missed. More importantly, it was for a very worthy cause. More than 250 people attended the gala. There were many distinguished guests, including the President and Secretary of Deaf Football Australia, Michael Katzakis; the secretary, Brian Seymour; the national coach of Deaf Football Australia, Danny Abboud; former Socceroos player Paul Wade—he was also the guest speaker, and delivered a fantastic, emotional speech—and other former Socceroos Robbie Stanton and Abbas Saad. Also in attendance were the Mayor of Holroyd, Dr John Brodie, and Councillor Elizabeth Culgan.

The night was an opportunity to recognise the Australian deaf football team and its quest to win the first Deaf Football World Cup, which will be held in Greece in a couple of weeks. It was a complete success, and raised $21,501. The funds will be used to support Deaf Football Australia in providing much-needed funds to establish school development programs for hard-of-hearing and deaf children, national and State camps, and national tournaments for men and women. Deaf Football Australia is recognised by Football Australia, Deaf Sports Australia and the New South Wales Department of Sport and Recreation as the national body responsible for the administration and promotion of deaf football. In 1978 the first meeting was held to discuss the formation of a deaf soccer body. Representatives from across Australia attended and helped to form the inaugural committee. Over the years the organisation has had several name changes to reflect that of the national body for soccer in Australia. Hence, in 2007 it changed its name to Deaf Football Australia.

Deaf Football Australia acknowledges the worldwide values of self-respect, sportsmanship and competition that go beyond the boundaries of age, gender, race, religion, political beliefs and nationality. It also believes that, through deaf football and recreational opportunities, football training, football coaching and football competitions, deaf and hard-of-hearing footballers can benefit physically, mentally, socially and spiritually in an environment of acceptance, equality and mutual respect. Deaf Football Australia continues to work towards the goal of its players to match the highest-ranked deaf footballers on the globe. With government-funded programs and school activities, Deaf Football Australia has the capability to become a top-tier management team. There is also a women's team, which has the short-term ambition of establishing itself in the mainstream leagues and developing many world-class players to help Australia win international honours.

Communicating on a football field can be difficult at the best of times, so I can only imagine how these young men and women overcome this obstacle and communicate with one another in the midst of a game. They face these obstacles each day, and their strength and commitment is a credit to them and to the passion they have for the game. As I mentioned earlier, Mr Danny Abboud is the national coach, and he has spent the past eight months scouting for and assessing players to fill his squad. He recently held a camp at Valentine Park in Western Sydney to select the team to represent Australia at the Deaf Football World Cup. Former Socceroo Alex Tobin, an ambassador with Deaf Football Australia, has worked closely with Mr Abboud and shared secrets about national team selection. Alex Tobin has been an inspirational asset to the team, and assisted with its formation.

As I said earlier, the Deaf Football World Cup is to be held in Greece this year. Our team, which is completing its final preparations, will compete against 17 other countries. I understand that the team left the country last Wednesday. I highlight the fact that Australia's deaf football team has qualified for the inaugural Deaf Football World Cup, and I wish the players every success. I am sure they will do well and make us proud. Upon the team's return I hope we will hold further events in south-west Sydney, in which I would like to be involved. I thank Deaf Football Australia for its kind invitation and wish the team every success.