IT’S sometimes said it’s not a good idea to mix sport and politics.
But sometimes it’s worth taking the punt.
And that’s what happened during a recent sitting week of the Queensland Parliament.
We cooked up a whole heap of democracy sausages.
As the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and State Member for Woodridge, I was delighted to invite major sporting clubs from the Woodridge electorate to visit Parliament House.
It was a great night. I was pleased to welcome a great mix of Woodridge’s sports leaders, volunteers and supporters from an extensive roll call of clubs including:
Southern Stars Baseball Club
Logan Thunder Basketball
Logan Brothers
Logan City Metro Football Club
Browns Plains Little Athletics
Logan City Netball Association
Logan Roos Football Club
Wolfpac Sports Club
Sky Badminton
Allied Allstars Netball
Oceania United Netball
Harris Fields Netball
I had the privilege of showing them all around the old building that is the beating heart of Queensland’s democracy.
To coin a sporting analogy, in its own way our Parliament is a bit like Suncorp Stadium or the Gabba. Just like our sporting arenas, the Parliament is meant to be a level playing field.
And like the games that are played at our sporting cathedrals, the Parliament has rules.
And just as in sport there are winners and losers in the Parliament.
It’s just that in our Parliament it’s not a contest of bat and ball, but rather a contest of ideas.
A place where robust debates can take place.
A place where a case for change can be prosecuted and arguments can be had.
But ultimately, the Parliament exists as a platform for Queensland’s people.
It is the home of our democracy.
And it is right that all Queenslanders be given the opportunity to see it up close.
See what our Parliament is like on the inside. That was the opportunity so many Logan sportspeople had on the night.
They got to see the Parliament and had a beaut barbie as well. Oh, and the democracy sausages were the best you can get.
