On 5 December 2017, FitzSimons remarked on Twitter that the incumbent Gladys Berejiklian government could "bulldoze and rebuild three new stadiums, including Parra, for $3Billion – on no demand – or they can win the next election, but they can't do both." On 23 March, Berejiklian and her coalition were easily returned to government, with political commentators suggesting that the issue did not resonate with the wider community of the state. The campaign had a minor success however, as the Government changed the original plan for a complete knock down rebuild of Stadium Australia, and instead would go ahead with a billion dollar refurbishment. The refurbishment would also be cancelled, although no funds were allocated to any grassroots sports facilities as FitzSimmons wished, and later had a similar level of funding directed to a new stadium in Penrith. Personal life FitzSimons is married to Australian journalist and TV presenter Lisa Wilkinson. They have three children and live in Sydney. FitzSimons has identified himself as an atheist and a republican. Bandana Fitzsimmons is well renown for wearing a red bandana. He has explained his regularly wearing of the bandana due to his children giving it to him to wear, so he wears it for them. He is at times referred to informally as "Pirate Pete" due to his wearing of the headwear. Honours On 13 June 2011 FitzSimons was named a Member of the Order of Australia for service to literature as a biographer, sports journalist and commentator, and to the community through contributions to conservation, disability care, atheism, social welfare and sporting organisations. References External links Homepage for FitzSimons' columns in The Sydney Morning Herald Peter Fitzsimons | Rugby Database Profile 1961 births 20th-century atheists 20th-century Australian historians 20th-century Australian journalists 20th-century Australian male writers 20th-century Australian non-fiction writers 20th-century biographers 20th-century essayists 21st-century atheists 21st-century Australian historians 21st-century Australian journalists 21st-century Australian male writers 21st-century Australian non-fiction writers 21st-century biographers 21st-century essayists Australia international rugby union players Australian activists Australian atheism activists Australian atheists Australian columnists Australian conservationists Australian environmentalists Australian essayists Australian expatriates in the United States Australian expatriate rugby union players Australian expatriate sportspeople in France Australian humorists Australian male non-fiction writers Australian memoirists Australian non-fiction crime writers Australian radio personalities Australian republicans Australian satirists Australian social commentators Australian sportswriters Australian television personalities Environmental journalists Expatriate rugby union players in France Findlay High School alumni Journalists from