Speech delivered on Sunday 1 February 2026 at Admiralty House

Thank you all for coming. You're all wonderful guests here at Admiralty House. 
I would like to start by acknowledging that we are gathered here on the land of the Cammeraygal people, the traditional owners of this land, and pay my respects to their elders, past and present, and to all First Nations people who are here as part of this morning’s celebration.

Acknowledgements:

• Jess Miller, the Deputy Lord Mayor of Sydney, representing the Lord Mayor 
• The Honorable Joe Harrison MP, New South Wales Minister for Women, Minister for Seniors and Minister for Prevention of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault
• Anter Isaac, Board Chair of Football Australia and all of your fellow board directors
• Heather Garriock, the interim CEO of Football Australia, former Matilda with 130 caps.
• Sarah Walsh – I want to say a few words about Sarah, Chief Operating Officer of the AFC Women's Asian Cup, 2026 office. As a Matilda alumna, you have always been such a powerful advocate for women in sport. You've done that also in the work you’ve done on making sure women leaving sport have great careers ahead as leaders across this country. And you and I had that long engagement, long before I came into this office. You were last year in Admiralty House in June last year when we were celebrating support from Minerva, giving time to 1000 women athletes. I'm sure there'll be many, many more football stars, women stars, to become Minerva mentors as they move on from playing sport. Anter, Heather and Sarah and I were also all together on a very cold night in Canberra in June last year. We were cheering on the Matildas against Argentina in a big game. There was a record crowd in Canberra that night of more than 25,000 chilly fans. And it was electric. It was a really amazing night for Canberrans and those who travelled to that city to see a great win. Really exciting at that game was the fact that we were building towards this moment, and so it's wonderful to be here again exactly a month out. 
  It was a reminder of the passionate and committed Matilda’s community, nurtured over decades – and who can forget the surge in support born out of their performance in the 2023 Women’s World Cup – and thriving in towns and cities across the country today.
• I want to call out the OGs, Sue Binns, Kim Coates, Lynn Everett-Miller, Cindy Heydon, Vickie Kohen, Trixie Tagg, Gundy Zarins, Trudy Fischer, and of course, added to that are Heather and Sarah. Just over 50 years ago, these women pulled on the boots as our first Matildas. They are absolute pioneers of Australian sport, not just women in sport, but Australian sport. You gave young girls across the country permission to dream of a future in football. Long before women in sport was a topic that was taken seriously, you did it often alone. You raised your own money. You weren’t paid, it was a great sacrifice for the game and for the country. I know when you turn up the games and you're sitting in the stands, how much love there is for you and gratitude for everything you've done. So, I know there are other Matilda alumni here, but this is the crew. This is 1975 to us. And this story is one of most vital in Australia's history. And I think this year with the Asian Cup, this is the opportunity for us to thank you again. It'll be particularly special on the 8th of March, on International Women's Day, when we gather to watch Australia play Korea at Stadium Australia. You are our very special guests today.
• Joseph Carrozzi AM and Jaclyn Lee-Joe, Co-Chairs WAC26; and Board Directors Football Australia
• Jamie Barkley, Director WAC26; Board Director, Football Australia
• Simone Park, the CEO of UN Women Australia
• Karen Jones, CEO of Destination NSW
• And then we have many, many distinguished guests here, distinguished representatives of many of the countries that are playing, senior leaders from so many sporting organisations that are working to elevate the professionalism and recognition of women's sport and continue to build the international ties of friendship that sport nurtures so powerfully.
  Thank you to all of our distinguished guests, to all of those who have come together today to celebrate something that we love. I know for many you this is your first time here at Admiralty House, one of the Official Residences of the Governor-General.

Simeon, and I don't think of this as our home, or of Government House as a home. It's a place where we get to live. 
But these historic houses and homes are places for all Australians to come. This is a place of peace and belonging. Part of that welcome is found in the art and artifacts, the books, the gardens – which you can wander around and feel free to look at. 

Today, we hope to tell a story that represents all Australians ,and over time, that is much more diverse, and you will see moving the change to tell the modern story of Australia. We want to know that over time, people who come will find something of themselves in the story that we share here, and in Canberra.

Our welcome represents the care and respect provided by the team here – from greeting each of you at the gate, to the special menu prepared by our chef, Jane, and her crew – every element is intended to offer a welcome of belonging and peace.
And I would like to thank the team. 

And it's a core of what I said I would do – putting care, kindness and respect at the centre of the work of the Governor-General. 
And I see that same striving to create belonging and optimism in the work of the Women's Asian Cup Local Organizing Committee. 

Your efforts to deliver this Women's Asian Cup have been nothing short of extraordinary. 

In everything you have done – from introducing Naara, the very first ASC Women's Asian Cup mascot, to her many adoring fans, the programs of events – the values of care, kindness, respect, community, diversity are so sharply present.

There is a deep intent and determination to realise that feeling through months of care. 

On Australia Day, I spoke about the challenging circumstances that we have faced over the past month. 

The brutal antimsemitic terror attack at Bondi Beach, followed by a cruel summer of a range of natural disasters in Australia, have sent shockwaves across the country.

But I have been deeply struck by the ability of Australians to find light in the midst of potentially overwhelming darkness.
Whether in the words of the rabbis calling for mitzvah – acts of unity and peace and kindness – or the stories of extraordinary heroism, or the immediate and generous response of so many.

Now healing does remain a national priority, but there's also so much to look forward to, including, as I said in my Australian address, that one of them for all of us is the ASC Women’s Asian Cup. This is something that gives us great joy. 

It was important to mention football, and women’s football in particular, because I believe this sport as a community and a culture, has a unique ability to bring the world together in peace and unity. 

This was brought home to us here in Australia most recently following the tragic death of Dan Elkayam, a young French man who died at Bondi. 

His teammates from Rockdale Ilinden FC paid tribute to him as an extremely talented mid-fielder, a respectful player, and, above all, a beloved friend. 

Dan came to Australia to build a life of connection and community – and he found both through football. I welcomed his partner and friends here to Admiralty House last week. 

His absence is felt deeply at Rockdale Ilinden FC, and by all Australians. 

As the Women’s Asian Cup roadshow gets underway – as the Matildas delight fans in stadiums from Perth to the Gold Coast to Sydney … 

… even while we celebrate the wins and count the losses, and cheer our heroes to feats of skill and speed … 

… we all know it’s the community at the heart of football that keeps us playing, watching and celebrating. And that it is women’s football – in pioneer supporters, and current stars, that bring something very special to us all.  

Football truly is the world game, and it brings the world together. And this tournament celebrates women and girls.  

For three weeks in March, in stadiums and lounge rooms across the country, Australians will be standing behind our Matildas and cheering them on with all our hearts. 

And fans from across Asia and around the world will join us – and feel the warmth and welcome of Australians, and the passion, joy, care and respect we bring to the great game of football, played by women.  

Congratulations to everyone involved in putting this magnificent tournament together and, of course, Go Aussie!