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Matildas Football Team

Published on: August 2023

Record: HANSARD-1323879322-133763

Matildas Football Team

The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Mr Jason Li):

Before calling the member for East Hills, I welcome to the gallery members of the NSW Young Labor High School Network. They have come to witness the terrific public interest debate.

Ms KYLIE WILKINSON (East Hills) (17:02:20):

I move:

That this House:

(1)Congratulates the Australian women's national football team on their successful performance in the 2023 Women's World Cup.

(2)Notes that Australia and New Zealand hosted a record-breaking tournament with the highest attendances of any Women's World Cup event and unprecedented viewership numbers.

(3)Notes that New South Wales played a pivotal role in the tournament, with Sydney hosting 603,957 fans at the 11 games played in New South Wales and thousands more watching at the multiple live sites across the State.

The Matildas have captured the heart of the nation in their recent endeavours in the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup and have written themselves into Australia's history books with their incredible achievements for women's sport in our great country. As a lifelong participant and advocate for women's sport, I pay tribute to the Matildas' legacy as well as highlight how we will continue to honour their fighting spirit and the milestones they have reached. Let us talk about the world cup performance. For those who somehow missed the games, the Australian team defeated reigning Olympic champions Canada 4-0, securing their place in the round of 16, where they played and defeated Denmark and then challenged France in the quarterfinals.

They delivered the most riveting and exhilarating nil‑all draw against France, resulting in the record‑breaking penalty shootout that I am sure many Australians will remember as a great moment in Australian sport—the first of its kind in any world cup. In the final penalty shootout of the game, Cortnee Vine stole the show and booked Australia's place in the semifinal. For the record, no Australian team, women or men, has ever made it past the quarterfinal stage of a world cup tournament. I cannot imagine the immense pressure the team endured during the semifinal, where they unfortunately lost to England. However, every Australian is so incredibly proud of their efforts, the legacy that they have contributed to and the history that they have made.

The Australian women's soccer team was first established in 1978 for the first Women's World Invitational Tournament and grew during the 1980s. In the 1990s, when women's football was introduced at the Olympic Games, a whole new interest in the Australian women's team started to grow and flourish. It is important that we pay respect to the original players and pioneers of the game, players like Moya Dodd, AO; Sarah Walsh; Heather Garriock; and the generations of women who fought for their right to get on the field and who were often denied the opportunity to play on the best fields or who wore second‑hand jerseys. Those women paved the way for our current Matildas team.

I also acknowledge the thousands of volunteers who every weekend and on cold winter nights teach and support young players. This win is as much for them as a culmination of women's hard work for equality in sport. The Matildas have been able to show Australians what sportswomen have always known—that our game can be the most exciting contest in the world. Across the tournament physical attendance reached an incredible 1.9 million people. Sydney hosted 11 matches in total, with nine of those reaching maximum capacity. The game against Denmark reached 6.5 million viewers on the television. The game against France reached 7.2 million Australians, and the semifinal against England reached 11 million Australians, achieving a new record for the most watched TV event in Australian history.

Those levels of enthusiasm and support for women's sport have, frankly, never been seen before in Australia and are indicative of the amazing change in our country over the past few decades. Participation in women's football has grown over the past two years. With legends such as the Matildas showing many millions of Australians how exciting women's sport can be, we can expect many more women and young girls to get involved and get active. In fact, Football NSW has reported that the number of players signing up for junior football competitions this summer has spiked by 170 per cent since last year. That is what happens when we support and endorse women's sports, and why we need to keep celebrating the Matildas' achievements.

We know there is no better time to invest in women's sport. We can leverage this momentum and drive change. The New South Wales Government is committed to delivering a $10 million NSW Football Legacy Program to support opportunities for football in New South Wales. The legacy program, administered by the Office of Sport, includes a $6 million grant for pathways for female coaches, officials and leaders in sport. We know our sporting legends get their start in their local communities, playing on their local fields. That is why the legacy program will support participation initiatives as well as community infrastructure developments.

I am proud that New South Wales is set to become one of the highest funding jurisdictions in terms of direct support for State Sporting Organisations, with funding increasing to $5 million in 2023‑24 and $10 million in 2024‑25. It includes $250,000 to Sport NSW to support the ongoing delivery and expansion of New South Wales female sporting leadership and female coaches programs. The investment sends a clear signal regarding the importance we place on increasing gender equality in sport, both on and off the field. Celebrating Australia's greatest athletes is a vital step to recognising the ongoing connection that women's sport has to our community. We will celebrate our greatest athletes by naming the eastern seating area at Accor Stadium in honour of a female athlete or athletes. It is an important recognition for women in sport in Australia and for girls who are looking to emulate their sporting heroes.

There is no doubt that the FIFA Women's World Cup has showcased the best of the world's footballers in Australia and inspired generations of athletes. With a large contingent of the Matildas team coming from across New South Wales, we celebrate Caitlin Foord from Wollongong, Emily van Egmond from Newcastle, Ellie Carpenter from Cowra, Clare Hunt from Grenfell, Alanna Kennedy from Campbelltown, Courtney Nevin from Hawkesbury, Kyah Simon from Blacktown, and Clare Wheeler from Coffs Harbour. To remind us of the team that changed the nation, the Government has committed to commissioning a great mural at Stadium Australia to celebrate the Matildas' historic success. The permanent mural will capture some of the Matildas' greatest moments during the tournament. The Matildas team delivered both on and off the pitch. They shook every hand, signed jerseys and posed for every photo. They brought compassion and kindness to all who attended and supported them. It is the connection with fans and their on‑field performance that have made all of Australia fall in love with them.

Ms ELENI PETINOS (Miranda) (17:09:08):

I move:

That the motion be amended by inserting after "State":

(4)Calls on the New South Wales Government to support the development of future Matildas by fully funding Active Kids Vouchers as promised by the Premier in the election campaign.

(5)Congratulates the former New South Wales Coalition Government on securing the hosting rights to the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup and on its record investment in sporting infrastructure which enabled the hosting of the event.

We are incredibly proud of the Matildas and the absolute fanfare all around the country to support them so that the next generation, like those in the gallery, can enjoy everything about football. The Matildas have set an example for not only young women around the country but also young men who love football. This resulted in 11.15 million viewers of the last Matildas game as people around the nation jumped on board to celebrate an historic effort from a Women's World Cup team. In fact, it was so significant that the Boomers, the Australian men's basketball team, moved their game from 7.30 p.m., when it would have coincided with the Matildas, to 5.45 p.m. That is incredible. The idea that men's sport was moved to celebrate the Matildas and get the whole country behind them was absolutely phenomenal in that very important game when the Matildas played England on 16 August.

The Matildas have set Australia on fire, as shown in the many ways that female sport has been celebrated. I am really disappointed that in question time the Minister for Sport could only talk about the mural of the Matildas on the face of Stadium Australia under the female recognition program in conjunction with Venues NSW. If that is the only way that the Government can celebrate women's sport, it is an absolute disgrace. In his response the Minister also spoke about increasing funding to the State sporting organisations through the Office of Sport program, with $5 million in 2023-24 and $10 million in 2024-25 with agreed outcomes to increase female participation. There is also $10 million in community infrastructure programs through the Football Legacy Program. They are all things that were done under the previous Coalition Government.

In this debate members opposite are too embarrassed to talk about the fact that their only legacy for female football will be to reduce the number of young girls—and young boys—who will be able to participate in football due to significant cuts to the Active Kids program. In 2022, 1.3 million vouchers were created. Some 645,000, or 48 per cent of them, were used by a female. Over 155,000 vouchers were used for soccer or football by boys and over 53,000 were used for soccer or football by girls as at 25 May 2023. That demonstrates where football was at all around our State—and that was before the increase in female participation in football that we will see across the State. That is why the former Government worked so hard to make sure that as part of the program it brought 10 world cups in 10 years to New South Wales. One of those world cups, as those in the gallery now know, was the FIFA Women's World Cup in 2023, which had an estimated visitor spend in our economy of $21 million. That event has surely changed the level of football fever all around our State.

It is a really important opportunity for us to celebrate the women who have set this example and who have made our country so incredibly proud. I pay tribute to Mackenzie Arnold, Teagan Micah, Lydia Williams, Ellie Carpenter, Steph Catley, Charlotte Grant, Clare Hunt, Alanna Kennedy, Aivi Luik, Courtney Nevin, Clare Polkinghorne, Alex Chidiac, Katrina Gorry, Clare Wheeler, Tameka Yallop, Emily van Egmond, Kyra Cooney‑Cross, Caitlin Foord, Mary Fowler, Sam Kerr, Hayley Raso, Kyah Simon and, of course, Cortnee Vine, who kicked that very important goal in the tie-breaker penalty shootout in the game with France to set a record for Australia. These women have created an incredible legacy. It is incumbent on those opposite to keep building on that legacy for years to come and making sure there is a path for women in the State moving forward.

Ms DONNA DAVIS (Parramatta) (17:14:39):

I support this public interest debate moved by the member for East Hills. It is safe to say that the CommBank Matildas have literally changed the game of football in this country. Their skill, dedication, determination, compassion and infectious enthusiasm have captured the heart of the nation and at long last have placed women's sport where it rightly belongs—at the forefront of everyone's minds and on top of the agenda for financial support, broadcasting rights and media attention. Never before has an Australian team made the semi-finals in a World Cup tournament. From defeating the reigning Olympic champions Canada 4-0, to succeeding in the longest running penalty shootout in history, their accomplishments have been remarkable. This Australian team made history as only the second team to ever host a FIFA Women's World Cup and finish in the top four.

As the member for Parramatta, I am incredibly proud that the Matildas' accomplishments will be immortalised in a grand mural at Stadium Australia at Sydney Olympic Park in the heart of my electorate. Australia and New Zealand have played host to the single largest sporting event anywhere in the world this year. The enthusiasm has been overwhelming, with over 45.61 million total TV viewers, equating to a staggering 6.5 million viewers per game. Sixty-four per cent of the Australian population tuned in to that ripping semi-final against England.

While New Zealand and other Australian cities deserve some credit, the greatest excitement was in New South Wales with over 600,000 fans attending the 11 games around Sydney and 750,000 fans visiting fan sites. While there were live sites spotted around Australia, including at Tumbalong Park, it was the City of Parramatta's amazing live site in Parramatta Square that brought our local community together in a way reminiscent of the 2000 Olympics. The Parramatta live site was one of the only sites in Australia to provide coverage of all 64 matches and, throughout the three weeks of the competition, it attracted over 20,000 visitors. Initially, there was one screen. Then there were two. By the time the Matildas played the semi-final, the council had rolled out a third screen to ensure no-one missed out on a prime position.

I got amongst it at the live site for three of the electric Matildas matches. With mini soccer and Optus virtual reality games, beanbags, "Aussie, Aussie, Aussie" chants, Matildas gift pack giveaways and a crowd ranging in age from nought to octogenarian, the atmosphere was so good you wanted to bottle it. I congratulate and thank the City of Parramatta for creating a 30-day event that was such a wonderful success, cementing Parramatta's reputation as a destination and showing amazing support for the Matildas. In addition to Parramatta Square, the New South Wales Government answered the call for even more live sites and opened up Allianz Stadium, the Sydney Cricket Ground and CommBank Stadium in Parramatta for the Australia versus England clash in the Matildas semi-final and also the third-place play-off. More than 15,000 spectators attended these two matches at our world-class stadia. It was an amazing turning point for women's sport in this country.

Over the past few weeks all of Australia has been swept up with Tilly fever. If you have been for a drive down George Street, Parramatta, you will see that my office has been decked out with a Matildas display. We were fortunate in Parramatta to be one of the epicentres for the incredible FIFA Women's World Cup, with some of the most crucial matches of the competition taking place at Sydney Olympic Park and with the impromptu live sites outside Accor Stadium, at CommBank and, for the entire tournament, at Parramatta Square. The atmosphere was simply electric. The Matildas themselves were on the ground in Parramatta, leading to several exciting encounters for our community, including me, when the one and only Sam Kerr and her partner, Kristie Mewis, called in for coffee at Homage across from our office.

The Matildas have achieved something special and brought our nation together to realise that sport is about the game, not the gender of the players. Sport should be accessible to all, and the interest generated by the Matildas during the Women's World Cup has demonstrated to governments, corporates and sport administrators alike that our society expects to see equality in sport—equal access to facilities, to opportunities and to funding. By virtually every metric, the FIFA Women's World Cup and our amazing Matildas have created sporting history, hopefully turning a massive hairpin corner in the rise of women's sport that will never be reversed. I support the public interest debate.

Ms FELICITY WILSON (North Shore) (17:19:38):

I am excited to contribute to the public interest debate today. What a time it is to be an Australian. What a time it is to be a New South Welshman. What a time it is to be a football lover both in Australia and across the globe. I start by congratulating Spain on their epic result in winning the FIFA Women's World Cup. It was their first victory at the world cup and, as the host nation, we were excited to welcome them and celebrate their success on the evening. I think many people were particularly excited to see their success because we are still a bit bitter about losing to England in the semifinal. Many football fans got into Matildas fever, including many hundreds of thousands, potentially millions, of new football fans. It goes to show exactly what the Matildas have done for us as a nation, as Australians and for many new‑found football lovers. I got to see a couple of games—

Ms Charishma Kaliyanda:

Speak for yourself—"new-found".

Ms FELICITY WILSON:

I think you have had your chance to speak. If you want to contribute later on, you can seek leave. As I was saying, there were many new-found football lovers across the country—we literally saw the rise in support for football. I got to see a number of games, not just Matildas ones. I got to take my little two-year-old and four-year-old to see games, including the semifinal against England. I felt fortunate to be part of the momentum of the Matildas' tournament in New South Wales and across Australia and New Zealand. But I also know that the work of the Matildas does not stop "'til it's done", and it is not done.

The real work is yet to come in ensuring that we have equity for women's sport across the field not just for football but across all different codes of sport. We need to see investment in facilities, infrastructure, coaching and training programs across the board for women athletes and sportspeople and see a real change in attitudes to all women athletes and sports players. There is an opportunity to ensure that we do that. The NSW Football Legacy Program is one of the things that I am most proud that the former Government invested in. In 2018 the former Government had a bold vision. Gladys Berejiklian and Stuart Ayres—let us congratulate them—had a vision to bid for 10 world cups over 10 years. People said that nobody would watch the FIFA Women's World Cup and that it is not particularly interesting. The former Government said that it would be the biggest sporting event to hit Australia and New South Wales and that it needed the infrastructure to ensure it would work.

In 2020 we were successful in winning the bid for the FIFA Women's World Cup across Australia and New Zealand, predominantly because of the stadium infrastructure the former Government put up. There is no mistaking the fact that New South Wales hosted the largest number of games in the tournament, was the only location that had two stadiums in operation throughout the tournament and had the largest stadium in operation. Not only did New South Wales host the final, it hosted a semifinal and a number of the most important matches of the tournament. That was because of the foresight and investment of the former New South Wales Liberal Government, particularly the efforts of Gladys Berejiklian and Stuart Ayres. It was a foresight that those opposite—not those in the Chamber because most of them were not in this place at the time—completely shouted down at the time.

The former Opposition shouted at us about investing in stadia and that we should not be investing in our visitor economy, sport or women's sport. It was the lament of NSW Labor for years. Once the stadiums were open, Labor was happy to go to the corporate suites for the hospitality, but nobody on the opposite side of the Chamber would stand up for the FIFA Women's World Cup. Nobody on that side would stand up for the fact that Australia is now also going to host the men's Rugby World Cup in 2027 and the Netball World Cup in 2027. I congratulate the Diamonds on their recent success. Nobody on that side of the Chamber was with us in supporting women's sport and the global events that ensure that we are attracting the best and brightest, and developing women players and sportspeople for the future.

While those opposite want to stand up and be self-congratulatory today, coming in after the fact, it was the Liberals that invested in sport and women's sport in New South Wales. It invested in the NSW Football Legacy Program, which is investing in infrastructure, investing in empowerment programs, ensuring that we promote football and working with clubs across New South Wales to ensure that we have facilities for the women's game to continue to be the beautiful game in Australia. As I said earlier, "'til it's done", and it is not done yet; there is much more work to do. I encourage Government members to look at the amendment moved by the member for Miranda and recognise that the work does not stop after the Matildas have left the field. We need more money, more resources and more investment to go into our youngest players and sporting facilities for women across the entire State. I encourage those opposite to take on the call from the NSW Liberals and Nationals to invest in women's sport into the future.

Ms SONIA HORNERY (Wallsend) (17:24:45):The Daily Telegraph

I support the motion moved by the member for East Hills. On this side of the Chamber, we are going to talk about the Matildas, because that is what the motion is about. I am not going to talk about the pork-barrelling that occurred under the former Government, where electorates like Wallsend got nothing for 12 years. It got nothing for sport because it was all pork-barrelled. All one needs to do is read the article in today about Paul Toole and the money that was spent on National Party electorates. But I return to the motion. Labor will not congratulate the previous Government; we will congratulate the Matildas on their success. I go back to my history and my love of soccer for a long time. It started with watching my brother play for West Wallsend Bluebells when I was a little girl. He did not have much of a future. Dad said he was more of a ballet dancer than a soccer player, but I have loved soccer ever since.

The beauty of being an elected member is that I have had the opportunity to meet and watch many local soccer players. In fact, I have spent time watching women and men play soccer nearly every Saturday and Sunday of my 16 years in this game because I like it. I find it is an enjoyable way to spend a Saturday or Sunday afternoon. There is one particular team, North Lambton, that I remember buying socks for when the players were about five years old. They are always interesting games to watch. Those players would now be 17 or 18 years old, so some of them are playing for the Newcastle Jets. They spent a bit more time picking daisies than they did playing soccer at the time, but they have certainly grown up since then.

I particularly pay attention to two of our local soccer players of note who play for the Newcastle Jets—which I have been a member of for many years and follow on a weekly basis. Those players are, of course, our wonderful Emily van Egmond, who is a midfielder who scored that wonderful goal against Nigeria; and Clare Wheeler, who did not get the chance to play but was on the bench. She played for the Adamstown Rosebuds. I remember watching the Rosebuds play in the National Premier Leagues Womens on many Saturdays and Sundays. I cannot remember whether Clare played or not, but they were a terrific team.

The Opposition has not mentioned anything about the fact that it all starts with grassroots support. It is about families, community support, council support and governments, like our Government, that are willing to spread funding throughout all electorates, whether it be Wallsend, Monaro, East Hills, Blue Mountains or Opposition electorates. That is what it is all about. We will not have our best women players playing if we do not have the toilets and facilities for them. That is what this Government is looking towards for the future. Our women need to be able to grow up and play on fields where they have equal access to everything that the blokes have. That is what the Government wants to do. It does not want to pork-barrel money into certain electorates because it is worried about winning them; it wants to share the love.

It was magical to be able to watch the Matildas' matches. I congratulate all of our Matildas. I congratulate all of the volunteers across New South Wales who spend their Saturdays, Sundays, weekends and nights coaching and teaching, because that is where our Matildas started. They all started in grassroots teams, at Coffs Harbour, down on the South Coast, in Newcastle, in the Blue Mountains—from all over the place. They are the ones who deserve the congratulations. There is no way we will bring in the Opposition's self-congratulatory amendment to this motion. That is not what it is all about. Today is about saying that we are grateful for the talent of the Matildas and grateful for all the volunteers and all the support of the Australian community, both women and men, for this wonderful team. Go Matildas! Go Emily. Go Clare. Let us see lots of other young women grow up and play football.

Mr GARETH WARD (Kiama) (17:29:47):

I thank the member for East Hills for introducing this public interest debate and the member for Miranda for her amendment. I note that 15,000 Active Kids vouchers were issued to the electorate of Kiama in 2023 and that half of those went to children participating in soccer. On behalf of our community, I congratulate the Matildas on their success in the FIFA Women's World Cup and particularly acknowledge Illawarra talent Caitlin Foord and Mary Fowler, who made a great contribution to the team. Our achievements at the world cup have accomplished something special. No longer should we delineate in our celebration of men's sport or women's sport. Our country was united in a celebration of sport and sporting success. Gender was not a factor. We were unified as Australians in our passion for sport and success.

People watched the Australia-England game in their lounge rooms, in pubs and clubs, and at sporting venues and live sites all over the country. A call went out on social media to set up a live site in Kiama, and I am pleased to have assisted in turning one around in just two days, with a lot of help from passionate locals. Our community turned out. Around 1,500 people came to Hindmarsh Park to cheer on our team. Prior to kick-off, I interviewed the Kiama Quarriers, whose amazing women have made it to the 30s division 1 final against Thirroul. I wish them well in that grand final. Go the Quarriers! I thank them for inspiring players to get involved on the evening. I interviewed Grant Wilson, who is a local Kiama family man, champion of ability and finalist in the Focus On Ability short film awards. He shared his remarkable story of recovery and perseverance with the audience. We played Grant's film in Hindmarsh Park and shared his story and encouraged the crowd to vote for his video in the competition.

I acknowledge the local business community, the sponsors and Kiama Council, who also got behind this event and made the night an evening to remember. The main street stayed open late and supported stall vendors in providing everything from popcorn and coffee to meals. I particularly acknowledge Central Perk Cafe, Saltwater and Mexican restaurant El Corazon for staying open and giving life and spirit to the competition and to our main street. It should be noted that the streaming of these events did not include any gambling advertisements. I commend that, but I go one step further and ask the House to consider the appropriateness of fast-food advertisements to our children at such events and during streamed sports events in general. There is more work to be done in this space. The United Kingdom, Taiwan and Norway, to name just a few, have taken up this challenge. Independent MP Sophie Scamps has introduced a bill into Federal Parliament to restrict junk food advertisements aired to children. Why should we not lead on this and promote healthy food policy for our children? It is something to think about.

But I return to the main point of the debate. In post-game interviews it was acknowledged that funding was falling short in women's sport and in football in particular. This funding starts at the grassroots level, as many members have said, with clubs like the Kiama Quarriers, the Albion Park White Eagles, the Gerringong Breakers, the Illaroo Mini Roos and the Bomaderry Tigers. I could go on and on. New South Wales should keep pace with the Federal Government's recent commitments, which I commend, to investing in the next generation of girls and boys and boosting active participation, keeping children healthy and active.

So I watch with keen interest and welcome any support and commitments from the Minster for Sport on local programs and supporting local communities, particularly in regional New South Wales. Investment in these programs and projects is an investment in our communities and young people, who may otherwise not have the opportunity to learn a new sport or to take up friendships outside of school. I want more locals to be able to aspire to play for Australia in all sports. Who knows—they may even find themselves on the big screen in their local park, inspiring the next generation one day in the future.

I thank R and R Production Services for putting on the event and for their professional services; Mark Blight and South Coast Flat Packs, who was the major sponsor of our live site; Sally Bursell and the tourism and events team at Kiama Municipal Council; Saltwater and Central Perk on Terralong Street and the many other local businesses that stayed open; and Kiama market stallholders Eat Fuh, Tut's Charcoal BBQ, Kiama Bubble Tea, Haywell's Lemonade and Coffee, and doughnut vendor Moist and Glazed. On behalf of the Kiama community I thank everyone who turned out and supported the event and the Matildas, and say well done to each player, who not just inspired a new generation of female players but also inspired a nation as we were united in our celebration. Our congratulations go to every one of them.

Ms STEPH COOKE (Cootamundra) (17:34:44):

I confess I have not always been a passionate football supporter. One of the main reasons I was so personally invested in the Matildas was that two of the star players were from my electorate. Ellie Carpenter and Clare Hunt both honed their skills on local football pitches—Ellie in Cowra and Clare in Grenfell. Ellie's father, Scott, described the experience of watching his daughter as a rollercoaster of emotions. He said, "For a while, I couldn't watch. But I couldn't not watch. I knew I'd kick myself if I didn't." I know how nerve-racking it was for the rest of us watching on. I can only imagine what it must have been like for the girls' families. I can assure them that their personal journeys from country to the cup is one that has provided so much inspiration for young people, young girls in particular, in our electorate.

I was definitely not the only one caught in the grip of Matilda mania. Local clubs are now expecting an influx of new recruits for next year's season. Fourth place is such an amazing outcome, and I congratulate the entire team on all its hard work and shining a spotlight on this most important issue of female participation in sport. It is not only the Matildas who are blazing a trail for women and girls. The Australian Diamonds are the current Netball World Cup champions; Australia's women's hockey team, the Hockeyroos, recently secured a spot at next year's Paris Olympics, as did the Australian women's water polo side, the Aussie Stingers; Australia's women's cricket team has retained the Ashes; Australia's female swimmers literally leave competitors in their wake; and the female competitions in rugby league, rugby union and Australian rules football are going from strength to strength.

This level of success will continue only if we nurture the talent that is coming through at a grassroots level, which is why we need clarity from the Government about its plans for growing and nurturing sporting opportunities for women and girls in regional New South Wales. How does it plan on accommodating what will surely be a massive increase in demand for sporting programs and resources? The previous Liberal-Nationals Government had big runs on the board when it came to supporting female players in sport in regional New South Wales, particularly through the highly successful Stronger Country Communities Fund [SCCF]—pardon the sporting puns. We kicked some very big goals across the Cootamundra electorate, delivering significant investments in sporting grounds and amenities, aimed at encouraging engagement, improving safety and accessibility and fostering emerging talent for women and girls.

Round four of the SCCF in particular was designed to focus on female sport. In that round alone, more than $9 million was invested in projects across the electorate, from change rooms for female jockeys in Gundagai and Young, better facilities for girls playing rugby league in June, netball court upgrades in Temora, Cowra, Ganmain and Barellan, right through to bathroom renovations for lady bowlers in West Wyalong and programs to empower female sporting participation in Grenfell. The list goes on. But there is more work to be done. For example, the clubhouse and amenities for the junior soccer teams in Young need an urgent overhaul. Given the growth in player numbers in recent years—an increase that will now surely skyrocket—there is also a need for lighting to extend training sessions. That is just one of the many kinds of projects in our region that the Labor Government now needs to focus on if it is serious about nurturing our sportswomen of the future. It is not enough simply to light up the Opera House in green and gold and paint a mural in Sydney. The Labor Government in this State must demonstrate that it is serious about encouraging female participation in sport and nurturing talent at a grassroots level by investing in projects that make a real difference to the lives of women and girls in our regions.

Ms JENNY LEONG (Newtown) (17:39:25):

By leave: I speak on behalf of The Greens to offer support for the motion. We recognise the incredible success of the FIFA Women's World Cup and offer our support to the Matildas. I cannot help but put on the public record that members have moved away from offering congratulations on the most successful women's sporting event ever—the Matildas have become the most talked‑about topic in all our communities and in public life and, finally, we are centring on women and women's sport—and blokes on the Opposition benches are supporting an amendment congratulating themselves. The Opposition is actually trying to trump the Matildas and their success by moving an amendment to congratulate the Coalition and the former New South Wales Government.

If we did not think the Liberal Party was out of touch with women and the community before this debate, let us take a moment to recognise how out of touch it really is. We are debating the success of the women's world cup and the Matildas, but the Opposition has moved an amendment to add itself to the motion, saying, "Hello, we are here. We are still here—us blokes from the former Government. We are still here, and we want to make this about us. Can we congratulate us?" The final paragraph in the amendment congratulates the Opposition. I feel like we have gone down a rabbit hole. Members in this place will know that I cannot allow such thing to pass without calling it out.

We need to recognise that the motion moved by the member for East Hills—it is great to have a Labor member for East Hills in this place—centres on women's sport and the success of the women's world cup and the Matildas. It is not about former sports Ministers who secured a deal. It is not about former Premiers who might have done some stuff to help it along the way.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Ms Sonia Hornery):

The member for Terrigal will remain silent.

Ms JENNY LEONG:

It is not about Active Kids vouchers. It is about celebrating the incredible public support for one of the most phenomenal shifts in the zeitgeist when it comes to recognising women and sport in our communities and our society, and the celebration of queer relationships on an international stage. It is about recognising powerful, strong women who will be role models for our daughters and our sons—all our children—and the community. It is not about the guys behind me on the Opposition benches trying to somehow insert themselves into the Matildas' success. That is not what their success is about, and it is certainly not the kind of vision they stand for.

Ms KYLIE WILKINSON (East Hills) (17:42:26):

In reply: The Government does not support the amendment moved by the member for Miranda. I acknowledge the members who spoke in the public interest debate and thank them for their contributions. I note that there were some great live sites in the electorate of the member for Parramatta. The member for Miranda mentioned that many sports, including men's sports, changed their game times and venues to accommodate the FIFA Women's World Cup. It is great that they did so. The member for North Shore mentioned the tournament winners, Spain. We all take our hats off to the wonderful performance of the Spanish team throughout the tournament.

I acknowledge the member for Newtown, who brought the debate back to recognising the Matildas and the great work they have done in bringing Australia together to support women's sport. We acknowledge how much the Matildas' performance will improve women's sports and facilities for the women's game across Australia. I thank all members for their contributions to the debate. Every single Australian is so incredibly proud of the Matildas' efforts, their legacy and the history that they have made in Australia.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Ms Sonia Hornery):

The member for East Hills has moved a motion, to which the member for Miranda has moved an amendment. The question is that the amendment be agreed to.

The House divided.

Ayes32

Noes51

Majority19

Amendment negatived.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Ms Sonia Hornery):

The question is that the motion be agreed to.

Motion agreed to.