CONSTITUENCY STATEMENTS

Ms JARRETT (Brisbane) (10:08): In Queensland we love our sport, and this year's going to go down in history as one of the greatest years for Queensland. It started off in May with the mighty Maroons taking out the State of Origin series. We then had Geelong playing Brisbane, and the Lions took out the AFL premiership.

It was a nailbiting first half, I have to admit, but the boys hung on strong. And then how can we forget last weekend—the double-header in the Rugby League blockbuster. The Brisbane Broncos women did it first, fighting off the Roosters in a pretty hard fought game to bring home the NRLW premiership after five years.

Then the Broncos men showed they too wanted to raise the trophy, and they clawed back from a 22-12 deficit to win the game. I talk about this because sport is more than the game itself; it's about creating and building community, and the Brisbane Broncos and the Brisbane Lions do incredible community work off the field. Recently I attended an event here in Parliament House which showcased the Beyond the Broncos program.

This program focuses on improving attendance and year 12 attainment rates for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. We were joined there by CEO Dave Donaghy, legend Bronco Alfie Langer, student support officer Shonelle Turner and other contemporary greats. But, more importantly, we were joined by participants from the Future Voices Beyond Broncos Leadership Program, and I'll call out Abbey and Leyton.

Abbey and Leyton had participated in the Beyond Broncos Mentoring Program since early high school, and Abbey shared her story. As a new high-schooler, she was quiet, she didn't know her purpose, she had no friends and she didn't know what she wanted to be. Well, she was not that person some three years later here in Canberra.

She spoke to us with confidence and eloquence and spoke of her future career. If we didn't know her background, we would be none the wiser. Leyton did stellar job MC'ing.

He took control and he led with passion, although he admitted to being a little bit nervous. We all know it takes a community to raise a child, and that's what happens under the Broncos program. Everybody—players past and present, and the community—gets behind these young people.

We also recently witnessed Brisbane Lions co-captain Harris Andrews being recognised for his community work. He received the 2025 Jim Stynes Community Leadership Award at the 2025 Brownlow Medal ceremony. Andrews is an advocate of creating safer and more respectful communities and has been commended for his focus on empowering young people, particularly boys, to develop emotional intelligence and to reject violence.

Since 2018, Andrews has been an active ambassador for Beyond DV, engaging directly with vulnerable youth and volunteering at events to support those impacted by domestic and family violence. Our local sports teams have presence, leadership and reach, and they can change people's lives. It's important that they continue leading, on and off the field, because it's about making a difference, one person at a time.