Women-friendly facilities bid

THE State Government says it will consider a push for $15 million in extra funding to make Tasmania’s sporting ovals “female friendly” in its next Budget.

The state’s two most powerful sporting organisations have joined in a bid to make every one of the state’s sports ovals “female friendly” in the next decade.

Cricket Tasmania and AFL Tasmania will lobby local, state and federal governments to upgrade facilities, after an audit found only 17 per cent of sites used by cricket or AFL were female friendly.

The organisations have requested a $15 million funding injection from the State Government over the next four years as part of the $30 million needed for the initial 38 upgrades.

Labor has pledged $4.8 million over three years if it wins next year’s election.

Opposition local government spokeswoman Madeleine Ogilvie said it was time to address the lack of women’s facilities, and Labor would continue to listen to sporting associations.

“The massive growth in participation of women in sport, particularly football, has brought this issue into focus,” Ms Ogilvie said.

Greens Leader Cassy O’Connor labelled the joint lobbying effort “gold” and said the push was strongly supported by her party.

“For too long, women and girls have had to put up with female-unfriendly sports venues which were built before the huge growth in women’s sport,” Ms O’Connor said.

“$15 million over four years is a good investment in Tasmania’s social infrastructure. It will modernise facilities, let women and girls know they are valued as equals and encourage greater participation.”

Liberal Bass MP Sarah Courtney spruiked the Gov- ernment’s efforts to increase women’s participation, such as the deal with North Melbourne to see Tasmania represented in the AFLW expansion and upgrades to community facilities.

Ms Courtney said it would discuss the issue with Cricket Tasmania and AFL Tasmania.

She said the Government had provided $250,000 for upgrades to Rugby Park to support female participation, and had more to announce “in the near future”.

The State Election is due before the next State Budget.