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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has promised one of the largest investments in women’s sport following the history-making performance of the Matildas at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia.
Key points:
The prime minister says the Matildas changed women’s sport foreverThe government will provide $200 million in funding for women’s gear and facilitiesIt is also reviewing broadcasting rules to ensure major events are free to watch
$200 million will be invested through the Play Our Way program to improve sporting facilities and equipment specifically for women and girls.
The Matildas’ matches became the most watched events in decades, as Australia went all the way to the semifinals in nail-biting games played out in front of audiences of millions on home soil.
Mr Albanese said after the World Cup, women’s sport in Australia had been forever changed.
“The Matildas have given us a moment of national inspiration,” Mr Albanese said.
“This is about seizing that opportunity for the next generation, investing in community sporting facilities for women and girls around Australia.”
The Matildas are shaping up for their last match of the cup on Saturday night to determine third place.
Following their semifinals loss on Wednesday, Matildas captain Sam Kerr said it was time for the team and women’s sport to be better funded for their development.
“The comparison to other sports isn’t really good enough. And hopefully, this tournament changes that because that’s the legacy you leave — not what you do on the pitch. The legacy is what you do off the pitch,” Kerr said.
“And hopefully, I mean, it’s hard to talk about now, but hopefully this is the start of something new.”
The prime minister said the Matildas, the Diamonds in netball, the Wallaroos in rugby and other teams had changed Australian sport, and that the government was acting quickly to ensure that momentum rippled through generations.
Sport Minister Anika Wells said the $200 million commitment would ensure women had their own facilities and gear, rather than having to borrow from men’s teams.
“Too often women and girls are changing in men’s bathrooms, wearing hand-me-down boys uniforms, playing with men’s equipment on poor fields that boys’ teams wouldn’t train on,” Ms Wells said.
Minister for Women Katy Gallagher said women’s athleticism should be celebrated.
“Gender equality doesn’t happen overnight, but it’s clear something has changed in Australia, and it feels like we’re getting closer,” Senator Gallagher said.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton earlier this week committed his party to providing $250 million for women’s sport if it won the next election — funding he said should be matched by the states.
The government will make funding available for all sports but says it anticipates soccer, as the highest participation sport in Australia, will need significant resourcing in the wake of the Women’s World Cup.
Seeking to avoid the controversies of the former government’s sporting grants scheme, the government says funding will be determined by an expert advisory panel that will assess where funding is needed most and will have the greatest impact.
Applications for funding will open from early 2024.
Government moves on rules ensuring free live coverage of major events
The government has also proposed reforms to the rules on how sporting events are televised.
The government will consider preventing streaming services and broadcasters from acquiring broadcast rights before a free-to-air channel is given the right to broadcast, making them a “safety net” for free access to nationally significant events.
The so-called anti-siphoning list could also include events in the Paralympic Games, the AFL Women’s Premiership, the NRL women’s Premiership and the NRL Women’s State of Origin.
Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said Australians deserved to enjoy live and free coverage of major events “no matter where they live or what they earn”.
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