The Hon. V.A. TARZIA (Hartley) (16:59): I move:
Delete paragraph (c) and amend as follows:
Notes that the 2024 Super Netball Grand Final will be played in the Adelaide Thunderbirds' temporary new home at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre.
On Tuesday the 29th, the member for Waite gave notice that she would move the motion, as has been pointed out. What a game that grand final was. The Adelaide Thunderbirds were able to defeat the New South Wales Swifts in what was an incredibly close grand final match, ending a 10-year premiership drought. The Thunderbirds of course secured the grand final by just a single point.
I was watching the game with my son and my wife at the time, and what an absolutely nerve-racking game it was. The result was a 60-59 grand final, attended by a sellout crowd, with over 9,000 people turning up to support both sides. Excitingly, the Thunderbirds took the lead with around just one minute and 44 seconds left in extra time.
The South Australian government has won the right to host the 2024 Super Netball Grand Final in Adelaide. The Adelaide Entertainment Centre will be the temporary home of the Thunderbirds from the next season, with the grand final match being played at the venue, regardless of whether the Thunderbirds make it to the grand final in 2024.
Obviously, as a former government we worked tirelessly to commit around $400 million into sport during our time in office, and that supported thousands of jobs and better health outcomes and also increased economic investment in the state. The former government also led South Australia into a sporting golden era with its 20-year road map for the state's sporting infrastructure needs. Of course, we also invested $12 million into the upgrade of the Netball SA Stadium in Mile End.
We support paragraphs (a) and (b) of the motion but, as I said, we have moved to amend paragraph (c). I look forward to hearing the debate. Go Thunderbirds. It was also really pleasing to attend a ceremony here in the parliament celebrating their victory. In terms of netball in this state, I think our best days are ahead of us in South Australia. I offer congratulations to the girls on their grand final victory and I wish them all the very best in the future.
