Page 2122 - Week 06 - Thursday, 8 June 2017
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
The government will increase funding support for women’s sport. Most notably, this includes establishing four-year funding agreements with both the Canberra Capitals basketball team and Canberra United women’s football team. These agreements are a major change to the way the government approaches elite sport. They give both teams greater certainty around planning, recruiting and player development, closer to that of our elite men’s teams; they offer a means for securing better sponsorship deals; and they will help grow both the Caps’ and United’s presence in the community and their prominence for junior players.
A further $1 million is in the budget for programs which will work to encourage and empower women and girls at all levels of sport over the next four years: $500,000 for female-friendly sports infrastructure; $400,000 in incentive funding for sports to lead on gender equity; and $100,000 for a new female sport online hub at HerCanberra.
The buy-in of the Canberra sports community around this work has been great. I have no doubt that they will keep pushing ahead for positive change and the government looks forward to working with them as these initiatives are implemented.
MS CHEYNE: Minister, how do these initiatives further the government’s commitment to gender equality?
MS BERRY: I have pointed to the fact that the government’s work in the sport portfolio is part of a broader picture. The ACT government continues to lead reforms for gender equity and health, equal rights, and domestic and family violence. We have funded participation in sports broadly equitably but this is a new level of commitment in elite sport administration, infrastructure and online.
The government is committed to continuing its work on building the most inclusive and equitable city we can. As I said this morning in my ministerial statement on safer families, governments can provide the leadership and the funding but it takes the whole community to create real change. Just recently I launched the women’s action plan, which outlines a range of actions the government will deliver on under the theme of health and wellbeing.
Clearly sport and recreation has a connection with this work. It contributes to the social inclusion, safety, health and wellbeing of ACT women. Its power as an enabler of these things is something that the government should always be looking to unleash. As you chat with people across different sports and different walks of life, there is a real understanding and an opportunity to embrace these opportunities.
The need to pursue gender equity will continue across the government’s portfolios. It is good to be able to show such strong progress in sport and recreation.
Trade unions—memorandum of understanding
MR WALL: My question is to the Chief Minister. During estimates last year you were asked a question regarding what benefits the MOU with UnionsACT has brought to workers. Your response stated:
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video