Tuesday, 9 December 2025

 Anthony CIANFLONE (Pascoe Vale) (14:39): (1459) My constituency question is for the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events. Why is the Victorian Labor government continuing to invest to support statewide sport facilities, pathways and outcomes from grassroots to elite, including for the world game of football? As the co-convenor of the Victorian Parliamentary Friends of Football, I am honoured to welcome the mighty South Melbourne ‘Hellas’ Football Club to Parliament today to celebrate their historic and inaugural Australian Championship win over the weekend in a magnificent display against New South Wales arch rival Marconi. South Melbourne navigated their way through a highly competitive and first-ever nationwide, 16-team round robin competition to take out the title, making the entire Victorian football community proud along the way in what is essentially Australia’s newly created second division, only behind the A-league. As one of Victoria’s longest standing, most iconic and successful clubs, proudly built by a hardworking Greek migrant community, I encourage all members to join celebrations at 3 pm in the south library today and meet with club leaders, players and supporters to celebrate South Melbourne’s history-making performance. Commendations to the entire club community, including co-presidents Bill Papastergiadis OAM and Andrew Mesourouni. In doing so I also acknowledge that the win coincides with the 20th anniversary of the Socceroos historic qualification for the 2006 World Cup through the legendary match against Uruguay – Mark Schwarzer and obviously Mark Bresciano– (Time expired)

The SPEAKER: Order! Before I call the member for Mildura, member for Pascoe Vale, can you explain, through your constituency question, how that relates to your electorate?

Anthony CIANFLONE: It relates to my electorate because I have one of the highest participation rates in football in this state. South Melbourne won the Australian championship on behalf of Victorian teams, and there are local connections to the club as well, with the greatest of respect, and in terms of the Australian side as well, Marco Bresciano, the former Socceroo, is a Victorian –

The SPEAKER: Order! I remind members that constituency questions must relate specifically to their electorates.