Ms ALLAN (Wentworthville) [6.47 p.m.]: I want to make a few brief comments this evening
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about the Parramatta Power soccer club. It is becoming increasingly common in the media for members of Parliament to comment on football issues. I do not think I have ever seen so many politicians publicly identifying with football issues. In the past few weeks a number of our own colleagues and Federal colleagues such as Laurie Brereton and Anthony Albanese have commented publicly on the struggle for South Sydney and the future of rugby league.

My comments are restricted to the creation of a new soccer team, Parramatta Power, in the national competition. Last Friday night I had the pleasure of attending Parramatta Stadium to see Parramatta Power’s match against Canberra. It was not successful in that game, but nevertheless there was a great atmosphere and a great deal of support from the Parramatta community for the soccer team. I congratulate Parramatta Leagues Club, which has created and financially sponsored the team. It has done so with the strong support of the local community and other soccer clubs such as the Melita Eagles, members of which were also at the match last Friday.

I was particularly pleased to see them there as it indicated that there is no competition between them and the new-found team in Parramatta. I have many soccer supporters in my electorate of Wentworthville, ranging in age from young children to adults. The junior soccer scene in western Sydney, as well as in other parts of the State, is very strong. The Granville District Soccer Association, which covers the bulk of the suburbs in my electorate, has strongly supported the creation of the Parramatta Power soccer team, essentially because it sees it as providing a future for young soccer players in the electorate.

I have been involved in the Granville District Soccer Association for many years, not only as the local member but as a parent. I was fortunate that my son derived a lot of personal satisfaction from playing soccer for five or six years. He is typical of young children in western Sydney. At long last they not only have a strong local association that organises their matches and encourages their activities but they also have the chance to create a significant role for themselves in soccer through the creation of the Parramatta Power team.

Without the financial support of the Parramatta Leagues Club and the Parramatta Football Club the soccer team would not have been established. I pay particular tribute to the efforts of the President of the club, Alan Overton, and the General Manager of the Parramatta Leagues Club, Denis Fitzgerald. They are very active in the Australian rugby league community and have shown a real awareness and sensitivity to the local community of western Sydney by putting a great deal of financial muscle behind the creation of the soccer team.

Another person who has been involved individually is Gary Punch, former Federal member and Minister. Gary is currently chief executive officer of the cotton industry in Australia. He has put a great amount of personal effort and financial support into the Parramatta Power team. Unfortunately, the crowds have steadily declined. Two of the last three matches were played at Parramatta Stadium and one at the Homebush stadium. Attendances at the last two matches, one at Homebush and one at Parramatta, were very disappointing.

I will encourage my local community to play a more vigorous role in supporting the team. The Granville association, the Parramatta Leagues Club and the Parramatta Power soccer team have distributed passes to the families of young soccer players throughout western Sydney to encourage attendances. A clear message must be sent that it is important for people to come along and watch the team play in the national soccer competition. Most of the games are held on Friday evenings. It is important for local schools and students to be aware of the games, and I will provide the principals with the competition calendar for the coming season. There is tremendous enthusiasm and support for soccer in my community, and I would like to see an improvement in attendances at the matches.