Mr GEPP (Northern Victoria) (10:01): I too rise to congratulate Victorian sporting teams. I will not wax lyrical about the Vixens and the Storm given the contributions of others. I agree with most of what Mr Atkinson said, but not his slight against the Richmond Football Club, who I should point out were successful on Saturday night for the 13th time in the history of the league. They are the biggest Australian Rules football club in the world. It is a bit of a slight on Richmond that they are talking about a dynasty. I am not sure you should diminish being world champions with the phrase ‘dynasty’. But on a serious note, I am very pleased for the club. Not many people know, but I do support the Tigers. I know that four years ago, when we won our first flag in 37 years, there were not too many people who did not sidle up to you and say, ‘The Tigers are my second team’. Fortunately the world has corrected itself. We are now back on an even axis, and all of those people are now not so fond of the mighty Tigers.
But off the field the Tigers do an amazing job, like most of our sporting teams here in this state and this country—Richmond in particular with the work that they do with our Indigenous communities through the Korin Gamadji Institute, a wonderful institute and organisation who do so much work. I am very proud to be closely associated with them. And of course the Bachar Houli Foundation does so much fantastic work with the Islamic community and more broadly with the culturally diverse community here in Victoria. Well done, Tigers.