Tennis Australia and Child Labour Laws

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS (14:50): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Industrial Relations a question about Tennis Australia and child labour laws.

Leave granted.

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS: Earlier in 2023, it came to light that Tennis Australia has not been paying the ballkids for their work in the Australian Open and other tennis events across the country. Ballkids are boys and girls aged between 11 and 17 years old who play an integral role in ensuring that tennis tournaments run smoothly.

There is now, quite rightly, public outrage as many ballkids were forced to endure torrential rain and searing heat in the first week of the Australian Open, not to mention the dangers of course of tennis balls flying at about 200 km/h in their vicinity. Ballkids at other grand slams do get financially compensated. The US Open pays them $15 an hour and at Wimbledon they get a flat rate of $351 a week.

At the Australian Open they get a gift bag and food allowance, despite it being a year-long selection process, with an estimated 2,500 children applying for the job and less than five of those actually being successful. Applicants must perform rigorous drills that test court awareness, agility and the ability to roll, catch and toss a tennis ball.

The Australian Open reclassified the job as a volunteer position in 2008, meaning that children were no longer paid the $40 they had traditionally been allocated as of the 2009 Australian Open. Broadcaster and founding director of Western Sydney Women, Amanda Rose, said that it's about educating children on what they are worth. She said:

Essentially, I think it conditions children at a young age that the experience is worth more than being paid. For girls in particular, I think it's really important to actually say, 'no, (we're) worth this money…It's not a charity event.

You don't want them going for a job in their 20s and being told that it is for the experience, and they are not getting paid. So they should get paid.

My questions to the minister are:

1. What will the Malinauskas government do to ensure that children, ballkids, in Tennis Australia events in South Australia—where we profit and benefit from the tourism and events of those matches—are treated without being exploited?

2. What, more broadly, will the Malinauskas government do with regard to child labour laws?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (14:53): I thank the honourable member for her questions. In relation to the Australian Open specifically, I think there are two particular issues raised: child labour laws but also work, health and safety laws—as the member correctly identifies, balls whizzing around at 200 km/h do provide hazards in a workplace, without any doubt.

That will be a matter for interaction for the Australian Open specifically, the Victorian government and the national system, but I am happy to make inquiries in terms of any Tennis Australia events, and I think there is at least one in the lead-up to the Australian Open that happens here at Memorial Drive, in relation to children on court who retrieve the balls. I will bring back a reply to the honourable member.