I am pleased that the Iraqi National Football Team will be playing a soccer match against an Australian representative team at Arena Joondalup in Western Australia on Sunday 16 November, as part of a tour by the Iraqi team.
The Australian Government very much supports this significant tour, and we will be contributing $50,000 towards the staging of the match against an Australian side.
It is intended that the match be held as a practical way of encouraging sporting development and goodwill, and reflecting this it has been named the World Peace Game.
The Western Australian Sports Centre Trust is to be commended for its efforts to organise the World Peace Game and Tour by the Iraqi team.
The Australian representative team for the World Peace Game will consist of current and/or former Australian Institute of Sport players, members of the Western Australian State Team, and will also include former Socceroo Mr Robbie Slater.
Iraq';s National Football Team is coached by Mr Bernd Stange, the former coach of Perth Glory. I wish Bernd and his team well for a rewarding and successful visit to Australia.
I urge Australians to support the match on 16 November, and the other matches and events associated with the tour.