Coker helps to spearhead new Parliamentary Friends of Surfing Group

MORE than 50 of Australia’s top politicians joined world tour surfing competitors, Paralympians and industry experts to launch Australia’s first Parliamentary Friends of Surfing group at Parliament House in Canberra last week.

The Parliamentary Friends of Surfing Group will aim to promote surfing and create opportunities including for politicians to attend surfing events and interact with legends of the sport.

Among those in attendance at the launch event were Member for Corangamite and group co-chair Libby Coker, 2024 WSL world tour athlete and Jan Juc local India Robinson, Surfers for Climate co-founder Belinda Baggs and Greens senator for lutruwita/Tasmania, Peter Whish-Watson.

Surfing Australia highlighted many key initiatives and goals for the sport over the next decade, including the opportunity to host the ISA World Surfing Games for five consecutive years (2025 – 2029).

Parliamentarians marked the significant occasion by signing a group surfboard and the Parliamentary Friends of Surfing co-chairs, including Ms Coker received a special surfboard fin.

Ms Coker said surfing was a huge draw card across Australia, particularly in her local government area.

“So many people come to Torquay, Thirteenth Beach and, of course, Bells Beach because of the amazing surf and that’s why surfing is so important for our local economy, jobs, and our lifestyle,” she said.

“To bring surfing to Parliament House is a great thrill.

“We had an awesome panel featuring some of our nation’s best surfers and Surfing Australia had a great opportunity to catch up with Parliamentarians from all across the country to discuss the future growth of the sport and its incredible capacity as an economic driver.

“Like them, I want to see this sport continue to grow and I’m looking forward to continuing the relationship between Surfing Australia and the Parliamentary Friendship group for many years to come.”

Surfing Australia chief executive officer, Chris Mater said the national surfing body was thrilled to be launching the first federal parliamentary surfing group.

“With their support, we hope that we’ll be able to secure five years of the ISA World Surfing Games including hosting the Olympic surfing qualification event for the LA 2028 Olympic Games.

“What an incredible runway that would be, taking us through to the 2032 summer Olympics in Brisbane.”