Sports Funding

Ms WORTLEY (Torrens) (15:18): Supplementary question: is the minister aware that the former Liberal candidate for Torrens promised Gaza Sports and Community Club that a Liberal government would match Labor's $500,000 commitment for new women's change facilities?

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD (Gibson—Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (15:18): I thank the member for the question. I think I made the point a few moments ago that I am happy to see any paperwork that the member has. I know a couple of other members on the other side have mischievously been out and about, claiming that someone said this and someone said that and someone said something else. I am not at all suggesting—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. D.J. Speirs interjecting:

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: —that the member for Torrens is doing that, but I am very happy to talk to all the local sporting clubs and community groups to see what they have. The environment minister makes the very good point that the former member for Bright, Chloe Fox, did something very similar when she was in this place; in fact, she put it in writing.

I am keen to work with all sporting clubs, all community groups. I know how much they put in. When we look at the volunteers and what they do—in fact, I know Gaza. My local footy club was actually playing out there just the other week. It's a wonderful club out there, a great sporting club. The Jarman brothers, of course, come from out there. I played a couple of footy games against Gaza over the time as well. They were very hard, very hard at the footy.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: Yes, they were. They played a very hard game of footy, but it was always great to have a beer with them after the game in the clubrooms. I know the Leader of the Opposition appreciates that as well, when he is playing for the Blacks. These community groups do an outstanding job and we are really keen to work with them continuously to make sure that they can get the resources they need. I stress the point I made a few moments ago: we can't give everything to everyone right at this minute. That, unfortunately, is the reality, but we will be working with all clubs to make sure that they can get the facilities they need.

When we start looking at clubs, the thing that has intrigued me about them when we talk about facilities and resources is: what is the club going to look like in five years or 10 years? Are sporting clubs different from what they were 10 and 15 years ago? The thing that I hear when I am out there at these forums and speaking at these groups is they talk about family-friendly clubs. There was a push towards female facilities and being female focused. Females are vital. They are changing the dynamics of these sporting clubs.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: The input and the growth around particularly footy and cricket—we know soccer has always had a very strong female participation—and the change that that's going to deliver for these community clubs is really important. The thing that I love now is when you go to a footy club, not only are you thinking about female facilities and where females can get changed, you are thinking, 'Hang on, we've got men coaching women. We've got women coaching men across all sports.' So it's about being family friendly because the dynamic is getting so wonderful. To see dads coaching daughters and mums coaching sons across any sport and having that interaction is just sensational, so we want to make sure that the facilities we have suit football clubs and sporting clubs now and into the future.