Page 4186 - Week 11 - Wednesday, 24 October 2018
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many other games at the beginning of the men’s season. It is very short-sighted of the national AFL members to change that.
I have had an amazing year. I have had an amazing two years, but this year I was really excited to announce the fact that we are hosting a number of games at Manuka Oval of the 2020 ICC women’s world Twenty20 cup. We will host a number of top women’s games where we will see international players take to Manuka Oval on more than just a one-off occasion.
This is a great opportunity for women and girls to get out there and support their local heroes, to get out there and see some fantastic games and to see an international cricket cup being played at Manuka Oval. I thank the ACT government and Minister Berry in her portfolio as minister for sport for the work they undertook to ensure that we get opportunities like these to support women who play a vital role in our community.
My motion calls on the government to ensure quality, equity and access to sporting facilities and opportunities for all ages to participate; to work with community and professional sporting organisations to promote programs that deliver women’s sport; and investigate ways to increase the share of the community clubs contribution scheme that goes towards women’s sport. These are all extremely important initiatives that I am proud that the government has taken great leaps to implement. But there is always more work to do.
We have some of the most wonderful training facilities, but some facilities and infrastructure are ageing. We went to the 2016 election with a commitment to upgrade change rooms to ensure that women and girls playing sport can get changed. I know that seems like a very simple request, but many women who play Rugby Union for the Royals complained to me about the fact they had to get changed in their cars because there was nowhere else for them to get changed. It is little things like making sure we have change rooms available for women and girls that mean that they can continue to participate.
It is also extremely important to ensure that women and girls continue to participate after having families. As we age, women tend to become a little more attached to their families when they have them. It is harder for us to get out there and just say, “Oh, someone else can look after the kids while we go and kick the footy around.” Women are dedicated to doing everything they possibly can, including accessing sport. And I congratulate those clubs out there that ensure that women can continue to play sport whilst they have children.
I have a friend who plays football in Canberra and her team takes turns in looking after children so the mothers can get on the field and have a kick of the footy. They all work together to ensure that every woman in that club feels they are able to participate. It is those sorts of initiatives that clubs are undertaking off their own bat that we need to continue to support.
I look forward to the contributions members make today. The ACT government has invested a lot of time and energy and money in ensuring that sporting facilities in the
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