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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2023-08-31 Daily Xml
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Motions

FIFA Women's World Cup

Ms HUTCHESSON (Waite) (12:04): I move:

That this house—

(a) congratulates the Matildas for their incredible efforts at the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023;

(b) acknowledges the efforts of the volunteers—particularly those in South Australia—who provided countless hours of work to make the World Cup a huge success;

(c) acknowledges the power this tournament had in advancing gender equality within sport and the broader community;

(d) welcomes the Malinauskas Labor government’s $18 million investment in women’s sport, including $10 million quarantine for football alongside $1 million towards legacy efforts; and

(e) congratulates all players, coaches and officials on all their effort towards the tournament.

'Til It's Done:

'Til we outrun them.

'Til the pain pays off.

'Til we make you roar.

'Til we tell a bigger story.

'Til we settle the score.

'Til we stop them all.

'Til we do you proud.

We're not done, 'Til it's done.

Released just weeks prior to the FIFA Women's World Cup kick-off in Australia and New Zealand, the Matildas' campaign 'Til It's done aimed to rally support for the national football team in the lead-up to and during the World Cup and beyond. Let's face it, they smashed it! Our Matildas may not have won the World Cup, and I am okay with that—I think we are all okay with that—but they won something much more important, and that is the heart of a nation.

A record-breaking 7.2 million Australians watched the semifinal against England on free-to-air TV, making it the most watched TV program in more than two decades. At the 2019 Women's World Cup, 1.39 million Australians tuned in; the difference is striking. Almost two million people attended a World Cup match in Australia and New Zealand and over 740,000 fans attended FIFA Fan Festivals. The Matildas' journey inspired us all. They definitely made us roar.

It may be said that it was a watershed moment, but what exactly does that mean? If you consult the internet, it suggests the following:

A watershed moment is a turning point, the exact moment that changes the direction of an activity or situation. A watershed moment is a dividing point, from which things will never be the same. It is considered momentous…

I think we can all agree that the Matildas' journey through the World Cup and their lead-up to the challenge have been nothing short of momentous. They absolutely have done us proud and things will never be the same.

Support for the Matildas and the entire FIFA Women's World Cup was, and I think forevermore will be, powerful and transformative. The Matildas' grit and determination faced with the injury of one of the game's legends, Sam Kerr, was outstanding. You could tell by just watching them that they were driven, focused and never going to give up. This inspirational effort has changed not only the sport in this country but women's sport of all types. We are seeing women being celebrated for their strength and talent. This is changing the way women and the roles they can play are seen. This is such an incredible opportunity for young girls. No longer will they play second fiddle to the boys.

The World Cup brought people together all over the world: Australia, New Zealand, everywhere. In South Australia alone, the statistics were incredible. On the pitch, we saw five sold-out matches at Hindmarsh Stadium, including one round of 16. There were 65,757 attendees who experienced the world game at Hindmarsh Stadium, and 53.9 million—let me repeat that: 53.9 million—viewers in China watched the People's Republic of China game against England, the highest reach for a single match anywhere in the world in the tournament, and they were all watching Adelaide. They all know about Adelaide, and that is one of the legacies of this tournament.

We hosted teams from England, China, Brazil, France, Morocco, Korea, Haiti and Panama. Panama and China PR teams called South Australia home for their time in the tournament, with Adelaide selected as their base camp. The fan experience in Adelaide was electric. More than 87,000 fans experienced the two fan sites—the FIFA Fan Festival at Festival Plaza, which offered an official FIFA World Cup experience over the duration of the tournament, and the pop-up live site created at Memorial Drive.

As a first for a FIFA World Cup, the FIFA Fan Festival was a resounding success, with a full capacity of the site for the Australia v England semifinal, and a program of entertainment, including dance, concert series, cultural performances and a showcase of the state's culinary scene drawing crowds. Even pubs and clubs said they saw a huge increase in midweek trade, which is one of the key points of having the World Cup here—to bring trade, to make it worthwhile—and they absolutely smashed it.

That does not account for the people watching at home, with families, friends and neighbours coming together to watch in awe. My own family—my mum, sister, brother-in-law, both aunties and uncles, my son and nephew—and the neighbours all piled into my sister's lounge room to watch the Matildas play.

No other sporting event, no other World Cup has seen that kind of excitement. I was very sad and disappointed to have to fly to Canberra while the semifinal was on. Qantas, shame on you for still having flights with no streaming services after posting such a huge profit, especially on that night. So my sister and I sat not knowing what was happening.

As soon as we landed, I put it on my phone to see England score a goal. People were gathered round me, waiting in the aisle in the plane and we were all watching it. It did not work out for the Matildas, but it did not actually matter. Their job was done. They had captured the nation and they can be proud of what they have achieved, both on and off the field.

In South Australia, the lasting legacy is immense, with a $53 million redevelopment of Hindmarsh Stadium and an $18 million commitment from the Malinauskas government to create better accessibility to sport for women and girls. Ten million dollars of that money has been quarantined for football (or soccer as many call it), with Football SA agreeing to match the funding through a range of sources including clubs, Football Australia, and local and federal governments, securing at least $28 million for women's and girls' sport in SA.

One thousand attendees were at the sold-out gender equity symposium, The Power of Her. It was an incredible event where you could feel the buzz in the room. Our government anticipated the impact the FIFA Women's World Cup would have on the state. Last year, we announced a $1 million dollar legacy funding that in part allowed Football SA to deploy development officers to South Australia's regions, resulting in 16 per cent growth to date in the world game outside metropolitan Adelaide and that includes places like the Adelaide Hills, Eyre Peninsula, the Riverland and the Limestone Coast.

Football SA are also anticipating a 50 per cent increase in their school-based competitions by 2026. When we were last in government, 41 projects with a total investment of more than $42 million were funded through the Female Facilities Program and co-contributions launched in 2015. In a noticeable trend, that program was cut by those opposite. In fact, they jump up and say they brought the World Cup here. Some investigation, though, reveals that they were not too keen on the idea originally. Some may say they might have been dragged kicking and screaming. They do have a very short memory.

In fact, in August 2019 the Marshall government did not want the World Cup. At that time, trade, tourism and investment minister, David Ridgway, said he would not want to displace the AFL fans and, given there was no certainty on who might actually come and play here, they were not going to make a bid for the games. However, a very enlightened Leader of the Opposition at the time said sports fans would be disappointed, particularly young girls who would have been inspired by watching the Matildas play in a home World Cup and that is exactly what happened.

A petition led by our now Minister for Sport, the member for Reynell, with the help of our grassroots soccer clubs, urging the then state government to find a way to host the World Cup was launched and finally those opposite read the room and made a deal. In this government's first budget, we invested $13.2 million in female facilities and, while not female specific, it is important to note that in the last decade the government has invested more than $100 million supporting football infrastructure.

As mentioned previously, on the back of the successful World Cup we have now announced a new $18 million investment to support women's sport. Ten million dollars of that will be quarantined for football and Football SA will partner with us to unlock another $10 million from other funding sources, be that council, commonwealth government or other supporters. This investment demonstrates our government's steadfast commitment to enable girls and women to equally and actively participate in the sport they love and to truly harness the momentum of the tournament.

Football fever, as it could be referred to, is still raging. Locally for me, our own Sturt Lions have launched Monday night come-and-try sessions and at the one on Monday just gone they saw 44 new girls turn up. That is an incredible story, but it is not just the girls; the boys were enthralled by the Matildas' journey as well. I attended the round of 16 match where France took on Colombia.

I went with my sister, friend and his daughter Talia, who is nine years old. She is a big football fan and a player. In front of us, about 10 rows down, my brother was there with his daughter, another football player aged 12. They were loving it and they were inspired, and also sitting next to me were three boys, maybe aged 11 to 12, who were right into it as well. They told me that they wanted Colombia to win because that would be better for Australia. Their mum and older brothers were sitting behind us and they were constantly on their feet, cheering and making suggestions.

It was so lovely to see these boys watching sport—not women's sport, just sport. That is the legacy: to these boys, women's sport is just sport. No longer will it play second fiddle to the men's game and, let's face it, you see more of the game when women do play as they spend less time rolling around on the ground carrying on like pork chops and just get on with the game. Boys, it is time to play like a girl.

The support for the Matildas from this fan festival is huge. More Matildas jerseys were sold during this World Cup compared with the Men's World Cup in Qatar—not just more, but double—and 150,000 people signed a petition to have Nike make replica goalie jerseys after they refused to do so. They are now going to make them. Let's face it, Mackenzie Arnold was a national hero after 17 minutes of nailbiting penalty shootout with 49,500 fans roaring in the background. She won the game for us.

The Matildas have done us proud, but their journey is not done yet. Their campaign 'Til It's Done rages on. They were there to do their best in the game, but that is only half of what they have set out to achieve. I found the following tribute to the Matildas and their campaign:

Matildas—'Til It's Done

If 'it' was inspiring an entire generation of young girls, it's done.

If 'it' was uniting a nation, it's done.

If 'it' was bringing millions of people on a journey, it's done.

If 'it' was making people who have never watched or followed the game fall in love with it, it's done.

If 'it' was making a country fall in love with you, it's done.

If 'it' was opening the eyes of thousands of people who didn't understand the magnitude and impact women's sport could have, it's done.

If 'it' was changing the way female athletes are perceived, it's done.

If 'it' was giving your absolute all for your country and each other, it's done.

If 'it' was breaking records so we can start breaking down systemic barriers, it's done.

Whether it was none or all of those things, it's done anyway, and we thank you, Matildas.

But they are not done yet. They have a few more things to do, according to their campaign which was developed by Ogilvy in collaboration with Football Australia. They have four more things to cross off their list. They are, and I quote:

grassroots football gets funded

we bring it at Paris 2024

we go again in 2027

we leave a legacy…

We're not done #tilitsdone.

We say: bring it, Matildas. We are all behind you 'Til It's Done.

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA (Hartley) (12:16): I am the lead speaker for the opposition on this particular motion. I am pleased to present to you, sir, especially yourself as a football fan, even if I might think it is the wrong team. I would like to move an amendment to the motion. I would like to support most of the motion. However, I move:

Remove paragraph (d) of the motion and insert as follows:

(d) calls on the Malinauskas Labor government to further invest in women's sporting events, infrastructure and programs;

There is no doubt that we are so proud of the Matildas for their absolutely incredible efforts at the FIFA Women's World Cup. They did tremendously well. The overwhelming majority of South Australians—and, in fact, millions and millions of Australians—tuned in to watch their games like never before. In fact, the World Cup semifinal between England and Australia brought in some say a peak viewership of around 11 million viewers, with a match average of roughly seven million. That is absolutely extraordinary. These figures mean that that match between the Matildas and England was actually the single most viewed program in Australian television history since the current recording system began.

I, too, acknowledge the efforts of the volunteers, particularly those in South Australia. What a privilege it was to be able to go to some of these games and witness the volunteers and also the staff who gave their all to help put on several fantastic games here in South Australia. Those volunteers have provided countless hours of work to make the World Cup a huge success.

I was grateful to meet the FIFA president, Gianni Infantino. I thought, 'Do I or don't I? Do I go and say hello or I do not?' Gianni Infantino: congratulations to you, sir, and thank you very much for putting your faith in Australia, in South Australia. What a privilege it was to meet him. He was highly complimentary of Coopers Stadium. That might allow me to also talk a little bit about the former Liberal government's investment in Coopers Stadium.

Our government at the time provided funding for the $53 million upgrade to Hindmarsh Stadium, Coopers Stadium, in preparation for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup. It is very clear that without the upgrade to that stadium we would not have been able to host games in Adelaide. It is as simple as that, and it is something that we should be very proud of: that we, as a former government, were able to invest in these facilities, but the government before us did not. Coopers Stadium is a clear example of that.

The current government has a long way to go when it comes to infrastructure, especially in women's sport. We know that at the moment grounds are at capacity right across the state. While this might be a good start, it is certainly not enough. In life, you have summer friends and you have winter friends. During the summer, we know that everyone wants to be friends with you but what about in the winter? What I am saying is that I smell somewhat of a pattern by this government, that when things are popular, of course they want to jump on the bandwagon. Women's sport in this town needs more investment than it is getting now.

I will give you an example of that. Do you know when it was that the Matildas last played here in South Australia? Do you know when it was? It was a long time ago. We got a game here in 2019, but before that time the Matildas had not played here in a decade. They had not played here in a decade, so if this Premier and this government are serious about supporting the Matildas and supporting women's sport in this town, why does the Premier not lobby to get the Matildas here to South Australia? Right here, right now, today, what I am doing is asking the Premier to do whatever it takes to get the Matildas here in South Australia.

The Hon. N.F. Cook: No, you are rewriting history, mate.

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: What part of that is history? In 2019—but before that they did not play here for a decade. They did not play here for a decade. It is an absolute disgrace.

The Hon. N.F. Cook: We're talking about you and your passion about female sport, mate.

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: Love female sport, love it.

The Hon. N.F. Cook: Yes, I bet. That is why you cancelled the female change room program.

The ACTING SPEAKER (Mr Odenwalder): Order! The minister will not interject, and the shadow minister will not respond to interjections.

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: Thank you, sir. We know the World Cup brought together 32 magnificent different teams from across the world, the contest, as we have heard, selling around two million tickets; it is absolutely extraordinary stuff. As I said, it is important that governments of both persuasions continue to invest in women's sport, whether it be programs or facilities.

We know that many of these facilities are at capacity at the moment, and that is why I cannot understand the prerogative of this planning minister, who makes comments about things like the Magill uni campus site. Do you know what is on that site at the moment, sir? Guess what? There is a soccer pitch. Every single week in my electorate—and it is not just my electorate, there are other electorates as well—at the moment hundreds of kids play on that soccer pitch.

But do you know what this planning minister wants to talk about? He wants to talk about a master plan. He wants to talk about potential housing developments going on some of that uni land. It is all well and good to talk about fluffy motions, it is all well and good to talk about things when they are popular, but remember what I said about summer friends and winter friends. You do not just get to play elite sport. Do you know where it starts? At the junior level. This government needs to take consideration of this matter and invest in sport at the grassroots, not always when it is popular, by the way. This is what we need: we need courage from this government to actually invest in the future, invest in our junior teams and our women.

Members interjecting:

The ACTING SPEAKER (Mr Odenwalder): Order!

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: We did not cut anything. What are you talking about?

Members interjecting:

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: What are you talking about?

The ACTING SPEAKER (Mr Odenwalder): Order, members on my right! I am sure someone will get the chance to rebut these arguments.

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: The record will show that if the former Liberal government did not invest in Coopers Stadium we would not have got games in Adelaide—and that is all she wrote. That is it, that is a matter of fact. I always wanted the World Cup here, and I was very grateful that we got it. What can I say? I was very grateful that we got it.

China and England, what a fantastic game that Adelaide was able to host, and with France and Morocco the town was alive. If the government is going to go after these events, I would welcome the government going after world-class events that bring vibrancy to this state. If they come up with a good idea, I will back it in 100 per cent. The town was alive like I have not seen in several years.

We even had the Moroccans here, some social media influencers from Morocco. They were very impressed to be here in South Australia. We brought them into the chamber, we showed them the beautiful tapestries that we have here and we told them about the proud progressive nature that we have had in South Australia and about our strong record on things when it comes to the women's suffragette movement here in this state. My point is that South Australia was on show to all the world—and we passed with flying colours. The city was alive. There were certainly scenes that we have not seen in several years, that is for sure.

Because the success of the Matildas has been so well received and has been so good, we know that now there is going to be extra demand when it comes to soccer in our community clubs, when it comes to soccer in our schools. There is going to be increasing demand, and that is why I plead with this government to do things smartly and make sure that they do invest in our grounds, in our infrastructure, in our programs, in grounds like the Magill university campus.

That campus cannot turn into high-rise housing. There is a soccer pitch right there at the moment. That needs to be preserved. Open space needs to be preserved, and we have to continue to invest in these facilities. We know that women's sport has got better and better, and we as an opposition will continue to support women's sport and build on our proud history wherever we can. I commend the amended motion to the house.

S.E. ANDREWS (Gibson) (12:26): I rise to speak in support of the motion. My biggest congratulations to the Matildas on Australia's most successful football campaign at a World Cup ever. I think none of us are ever going to forget those 17 minutes, the longest penalty shootout we have ever experienced. What an exciting time that was. The fact that they held their resolve and won that game is an absolute credit to them and it will never be forgotten.

What this World Cup gave us was that we saw women being celebrated for their strength, for their compassion towards each other and their professionalism. That is their legacy. We did not spend time obsessing on the fact that 100 of those players we saw playing in the Women's World Cup are out as gay. We did not spend time obsessing about differences and cultural diversity as the player from Morocco was the first ever in a FIFA World Cup game to wear a hijab. These football players gave women visibility.

We celebrated them for who they are, and they achieved this despite having careers in which they did not have the development opportunities that men have always had. We think of Sam Kerr. She started playing her sport of choice, Australian Rules, and came to football late in the scene because Australian Rules did not have a place for her. So many of us in our sporting lives as women have not had development opportunities that we would like to see, yet despite all this we have been successful.

Unfortunately, at this Women's World Cup, we only received 25 per cent of the prize money that men receive if they win a World Cup. In response to women calling this out, the FIFA president says, 'Well, women should just come and knock on the door,' yet they are well aware that we do not get equal pay. This is not women's responsibility to knock on the door; in fact, FIFA have the money now to pay women equally, and they choose not to. Part of the problem is that only four of the 29 people of the executive committee members of FIFA are women. It is no surprise that women's voices are not heard at this level. We need representation at all levels of this game.

It was fantastic to see all the referees, officials and our lineswomen at all the games, yet we do need more managers at all levels of the game. I know that, as a woman having played football for so much of my life, I have never had a female coach. I know that so many of us would really respond so positively to the opportunities and understanding of having a female coach, and we really need to take this opportunity to develop more females into managerial roles in this sport. I think it is worth noting, too, that internationally we have a long way to go. Prince William is the head of the Football Association in the United Kingdom. He did not come to Australia despite the fact that we are in the commonwealth.

He did not come to watch the Lionesses play in the final of the World Cup. That says a lot. I suspect he might have been there if the men were playing in the World Cup. However, he did kindly take some time to create a video sitting next to his daughter—not his sons, his daughter—because only girls care about women's football. We have absolutely proved that wrong, as the member for Waite said. In his video he said to the Lionesses to 'go out and enjoy yourselves'. He is not taking our game seriously. We have a long way to go and this is our opportunity to build on the legacy that the Matildas gave us.

I am proud to say, though, that our Premier has read the room. He wishes to celebrate women in sport and acknowledge this as an opportunity to build on the success of the Matildas as he announced $18 million for women's sport in South Australia with $10 million of that quarantined for women's football, and with clubs in Gibson still lacking female facilities this is very welcome. It will not be forgotten by sports players in Gibson that it was our previous member and the previous sports minister who cut the program for female sports facilities. We are here to build it back. We want girls and women to have the same opportunities as men.

We know that all the games at Hindmarsh were sold out, as they were across the country, and it was brilliant to go to many of those games and see the diversity of the crowds. We have families attending women's football events, we have young boys asking whether there is a male Matildas team and we have a whole bunch of people who are watching football for the first time in their lives and really getting excited and backing the Matildas.

This diversity of crowds creates an inclusive culture, and I would like to acknowledge women's sport for creating that. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all the volunteers who spent an awful lot of their own time to make this campaign such a success. They really were brilliant at their jobs because as you attended the games you probably hardly noticed them so seamless were they in their operations.

I would like to once again thank our Premier for seeing the opportunity that the Matildas legacy has presented us and so quickly responding and giving an investment in women's sport in South Australia.

The Hon. N.F. COOK: State of the house, sir.

A quorum having been formed:

Mrs PEARCE (King) (12:35): I would also like to thank the Matildas for their exceptional sportsmanship, both on and off the field during the FIFA Women's World Cup. I have mentioned a few times in this place that you cannot be what you cannot see, and these incredible women captivated an entire nation, showing just how incredible women in sport can be.

Among the many inspired are two lovely girls from my local community—Darcy and Poppy Jo. Darcy is a rising star at St Augustines Soccer Club, an incredible club based in Salisbury Park. She also dreams of playing for our state team and is someone I believe has a bright future ahead of her. I do note, however, that with her family originating from England her loyalties during the cup may have been a little torn, much like another member in this chamber currently, who I am aware may have originated from England. There may be one game we will not discuss when we catch up next, but what is absolutely certain is that this cup showed her that it can be done, that there is a place for her in the future of this sport.

Poppy Jo is another rising star in my community who is kicking goals at the Salisbury East Junior Soccer Club. In fact, this incredible club tells me that Poppy Jo is an amazing little person with the best personality. She was absolutely over the moon during the cup. I hope she enjoyed every moment of seeing our dear Matildas absolutely thrive and make cup history for our country.

I am sure that seeing something she holds dear celebrated on the world stage has absolutely locked in her determination to one day be there, wearing the green and gold and doing us all proud. In fact, I hope that not only these two incredible girls but all girls in our community were inspired by what they saw during the cup. Perhaps for some it does not necessarily ignite a passion for soccer (or, as many would correct me, football), but maybe it helps show that women can dominate in a field traditionally associated with men, which is just as special and important.

The cup in so many ways was an incredible feat, and with that in mind I would also like to thank those who worked behind the scenes and all the volunteers who helped make the cup what it was. The countless hours they have put in have certainly paid off. I am proud that we as a government will ensure the Matildas history-making FIFA Women's World Cup campaign will leave a lasting legacy here in South Australia, through delivering an $18 million grant program over the next three years for dedicated female sporting facilities and improvements that help grow female participation. I am even happier that Football South Australia has agreed to match the $10 million of grants allocated for soccer, dollar for dollar, through a range of funding sources, including clubs, Football Australia, local and federal government.

Growing up participating in sports traditionally associated with the boys was not much of an option for me. Too often I was told that I could not do some of the things my brother could do because, what if I hurt myself. I know it came from a good place, but I do not want to utter these words to my daughter because I know how disempowering such a comment can be, and I am glad to see that things are changing. I am proud that in my son's football team we have three incredible girls who in fact I would say are some of our team's best players. Halle is absolutely made for the wing, no-one can tackle like Jaya and young Meadow is fiercely determined and gives it her all.

We also have incredible women's football teams in the north-east, with special mention to Golden Grove Football Club and Modbury Hawks Football Club. In fact, a huge congratulations to 'mad dog' Katie and the Bs crew, who took out an outstanding win in the grand final last Saturday. I want to help encourage more of this, to help deliver more of a level playing field for girls and boys, and this investment will make a tremendous difference. The Matildas have shown us that nothing is impossible, and I am absolutely here for that. Yeah, the girls!

Ms WORTLEY (Torrens) (12:39): I rise today to address the success both on and off the pitch of the recent FIFA Women's World Cup, hosted both here in Australia and across the ditch in New Zealand. Our Matildas captured the heart of the nation with their captivating performances throughout the group stage and all the way through to the third-place play-off, the furthest any Australian team has ever gone at a FIFA World Cup. The magnificent FIFA Fan Festival, just next door at Festival Plaza, was a great place to go to watch the games on big screens, keeping warm around the fire pits, grabbing a bite to eat with eyes glued to the screen, along with the other fans. The atmosphere there was electric.

This is exactly what I did, along with thousands of other fans, for all three of the Matildas group stage games. I was fortunate enough to attend the quarterfinal against France in Brisbane, and it illustrated to me just how far we have come as a nation with our sport. Football fans, young and old, were at Suncorp Stadium that day. I saw young girls and boys with the name of their favourite Matilda on the back of their shirt. I saw fans with handmade signs for their favourite players, but, most significantly, I saw and was part of a sold-out crowd of 50,000 people at a female sporting event.

On top of this, the quality of the football was incredible. It was one of the most entertaining games I have ever been to, including A-League games and international Premier League games. The penalty shootout was incredibly nerve-racking, but thanks to some heroics from our outstanding goalkeeper, Mackenzie Arnold, it quickly became a very memorable night, with Ellie Carpenter, Tameka Yallop, Katrina Gorry, Mary Fowler, Sam Kerr and Caitlin Foord scoring penalty shots before Cortnee Vine's winning penalty that took the Matildas into the semifinal of the 2023 FIFA World Cup. The crowd roared, people were jumping in the air, and strangers were hugging each other. What a moment.

This World Cup has, far more than anything, highlighted the need for further investment in the world game across the board to support female participation in sport. This is why I welcome the commitment by the Malinauskas state government of an $18 million grant program over the next three years for dedicated female sporting facilities and to promote female participation in sport, with $10 million of it allocated to football, or soccer, as it is often referred to in Australia.

Locally, in my electorate of Torrens, the North Eastern MetroStars Soccer Club, who on Tuesday night made history by qualifying for their first ever Australia Cup quarter-final and found out last night in the draw that they will be up against A-League club Melbourne City, are starting in September on inclusive change facilities at their home ground T.K. Shutter Reserve in Klemzig. I know this will be most welcome by the Metro United women's team as well as their opposition teams.

Investment in local women's sport is so important because we know our Matildas did not just start off at the top. They came from grassroots football clubs around the country. Two of them, Charlotte Grant and Alex Chidiac, started off right here in South Australia. It is becoming increasingly obvious that in the future, to keep our Matildas and other national sporting teams competitive with high-profile sporting nations in the world, we need to start at the grassroots.

The investment by our government in women's sport will help us to continue to ride the wave of enthusiasm for the world game that the Matildas have brought us and enable more young girls and women to participate and eventually become the next generation of Matildas who will go on to win the FIFA World Cup. Congratulations, Matildas, coaches and support staff in the 2023 FIFA World Cup. You did Australia proud.

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD (Reynell—Minister for Child Protection, Minister for Women and the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (12:43): Mr Acting Speaker, 102 years ago the first women's football game in Australia was held at the Brisbane Cricket Ground. Just after that, the English Football Association banned women's football, with the FA arguing that, quote, 'The game of football is quite unsuitable for females and ought not to be encouraged,' a statement for which they have rightly subsequently apologised.

In the seventies, eighties and nineties, the first Matildas trained in the dim light of car headlights and fundraised to raise their fares to compete. On 24 July 2006, 400 spectators rolled into the Marden Sports Complex to watch Australia's final group game of the 2006 AFC Women's Asian Cup against Thailand. The Matildas won 5-0 and went on to play in the final, losing to China on penalties. If I took a straw poll, I am confident there would be many who would not know that Adelaide hosted that brilliant tournament, let alone that the Matildas made the final. It almost seems unfathomable to say that out loud but it is the true reality of how far support for women's football has come.

Sam Kerr, Mary Fowler, Hayley Raso and Caitlin Foord are now, rightly, household names and athletes who have inspired a generation to follow their dreams. We wholeheartedly celebrate them, we love them, we are inspired by them—as we are by those who have come before, those who blazed the trail. Dianne Alagich, Sharon Black, Moya Dodd, Sonia Gegenhuber, Tracey Jenkins, Kristy Moore and Kristyn Swaffer are just some of the South Australians who represented the Matildas in the times when women's football, indeed women's sport, was shamefully an afterthought. I acknowledge their hard work and toil, hard work and toil before any conversation about what this nation has just experienced at this brilliant FIFA Women's World Cup.

There are so many moments that stand out for me—moments of joy during the FIFA Women's World Cup. I remember being there during that 17-minute penalty shootout at the FIFA Fan Festival. I looked around for a moment and I realised I was hemmed in by about 50 young men, probably in their 20s, who were all wildly cheering.

When we announced our significant $18 million investment into women's sport, I remember meeting young Gisela Morrow, who absolutely wants to follow in the footsteps of these Matildas. I remember the excitement of a number of people in the crowd at Hindmarsh when, in the Moroccan team, there was a player who played in her hijab. It was the first time ever that a woman in the Women's World Cup had played in the hijab.

I remember that at our incredible The Power of Her so many women from so many diverse communities said that through the Women's World Cup they saw themselves being celebrated. I recognise the incredibly powerful role that sport, and this magnificent Women's World Cup, plays in advancing equality. Seeing women being celebrated as they were on the world stage for being strong, physical, powerful, not on the sidelines and not judged for how they looked, absolutely transforms the way that women—and the roles that they can play—are seen, giving us an unprecedented opportunity for change.

I honour the women we watched in this World Cup, I honour those first Matildas who trained in those dim car headlights and I honour all individual athletes throughout history who have seized moments to make a difference. As sad as it is that the astonishing Women's World Cup has concluded, we have a moment before us. It is a moment steeped in unique power to enable us to impact all that our communities and our world confronts, to lift women up, and a moment that follows other moments for change that other women in sport have seized:

Kathrine Switzer entering the 1967 Boston Marathon using an alias, as women were prohibited amidst concerns that distance running would be damaging to their health;

Billie Jean King embracing the Battle of the Sexes moment to elevate the status of women's tennis forever;

Yusra Mardini, after fleeing her home to escape the brutality of war and traversing the most difficult of journeys to reach safety, stepping back into the pool to compete on the world stage with the Refugee Olympic Team; and

away from sport, Rosa Parks refusing to move, utterly rejecting segregation and strengthening the civil rights movement forever.

Together, let us harness this powerful opportunity that comes from the FIFA Women's World Cup for change and make a difference—and make a difference we must, for girls and women across the globe, because:

across the globe, 130 million girls are prevented from attending school;

across a woman's lifetime, she will earn less, accumulate less retirement savings and be more likely to live her old age in poverty;

women in this country are impacted by violence every single day, with 39 per cent of us having experienced sexual or physical violence, with this fact significantly worse for women facing intersecting forms of inequality;

there are teams who competed in this recent Women's World Cup who relied on GoFundMe pages to attend; and

women continue to be under-represented in leadership, including in sport.

In football, we sometimes push forward and then fall back, but we win when we work together. With the largest sporting event in the world having been on our shore, this is our opportunity here in South Australia to embrace, ignite and harness the role of women and the unprecedented opportunity to push for equality. Achievements towards gender equality in sport here in South Australia look like:

five sold-out matches at Hindmarsh Stadium;

53.9 million viewers in China who watched the China PR v England match played here at Hindmarsh Stadium;

more than 87,000 fans who experienced the two fan sites here in Adelaide;

pubs and clubs across the state seeing an increase in trade;

an increase in girls and boys participating in football, with at least a 16 per cent growth in participation in our regional communities, an anticipated 50 per cent increase in Football SA's school-based competitions and an expected 33 per cent increase in participation of girls and women over the next three years; and

clubs across South Australia experiencing a huge increase in requests from parents looking to find a team for their future Matildas, reporting that their inboxes are literally exploding with requests from parents looking for a team for their child to play in or for a team for themselves.

As you can tell, South Australia absolutely and proudly embraced this transformational moment. It is a moment that we shamefully almost would not have participated in given the utter disregard those opposite have for women's sport. We will not be supporting the amendment of the shadow minister. I was there. I heard the then minister, Mr Ridgway, speak about the fact publicly that they would not participate in the bid. It is on record, it is in print, and it is absolutely a fact. Also, his call was supported by others who are still in this place. It was when we went to clubs and worked with them to develop a petition that called and called on the government to change its mind.

We will not be supporting that motion. Particularly we will not be supporting it from those who cruelly cut—again, it is a fact—the $24 million dedicated Female Facilities Program. They did so with $10 million of grant funding that people had already applied for. Clubs across the state had already applied for the last round of that funding, the $10 million round, and yet those opposite cruelly cut that program. It was shameful—absolutely shameful.

I was not actually going to speak about this today, but when I heard the shadow minister speak in the way that he did about their record I was compelled to raise these terrible issues. Whatever he says in here, the community knows. The community absolutely knows, so we will not be supporting the amendment.

Finally, thank you again to everybody who made the FIFA Women's World Cup possible. I look forward to harnessing the power for change that comes as a part of the legacy of this incredible event.

The ACTING SPEAKER (Mr Odenwalder): Minister, thank you; you have had enough injury time.

Mr BELL (Mount Gambier) (12:54): It is with great pleasure that I make a small contribution on this motion, which I support. When trying to think of a way of doing this, I asked my staff what their greatest memories were of the Matildas, in a quick sentence. Denise from my office said her everlasting memory of the Women's World Cup was when Sam Kerr took on three players and scored the goal of the tournament.

The response from Trav, my office manager and a sporting tragic of basketball and soccer and almost everything else—the hours he dedicates to local sport are quite phenomenal—was Mackenzie Arnold's performance in the quarterfinal penalty shootout against France. To remain 100 per cent focused, after missing a match-winning goal, and lead the team to victory was his highlight.

Ilana, my research officer, said, 'Sitting in my lounge room on a Saturday night with my two teenage daughters, who would normally be more interested in being in their rooms looking at their phones, and watching them cheer on the Matildas was such a special moment. It was exciting to see their interest in women's sport and what they can achieve themselves.' It was quite unbelievable how the entire nation got behind the Matildas.

My memory of it all was being at a local Aussie Rules football match on the Saturday. After the game (Souths played Easts), the clubrooms, which are very big clubrooms, held about 250 people, and every TV in the clubrooms had the Matildas on. There were 250 people—old, young, male, female—barely speaking to each other, just fixated on the TV, genuinely supporting our Matildas. There was nothing fake about it; it was a genuine desire and pleasure to see female sport at the highest level, with the highest skill set, being played in Australia. There was a moment when I felt great pride, I suppose, having two daughters myself, that Australia was coming together to support our own.

In terms of my family, I left during that match, and when I got home our children were all there in the lounge room watching the penalty shootout. What an amazing experience! Two or three times I said, 'We're going to win it. We're going to get this penalty in,' but we would miss, so my wife very quickly told me to be quiet and not to call the winning goal. On the last one, I said, 'I don't think we're going to get this,' because we were so deep into our players shooting, but of course that was the winning goal.

On a brother-sister level, I found it quite amazing that our son, who is 17, was quite often going to McDonalds not just for the thick shakes but to grab the playing cards to give to his sister, who was collecting them. As a dad, that was really quite special.

On a slightly sad note, we were aiming to host an A-League women's soccer match between Adelaide United and Western United this December in Mount Gambier. Shane Dycer rang me this morning and said that would not be progressing, but it would be on the cards for next year. I was confident we would get between 4,000 and 6,000 people in Mount Gambier for that women's A-League soccer match.

I do thank the government for the support around that—and I will be looking for its next year as well. It is pleasing to see so much money going into female sport and, obviously not forgetting the regions, making sure that some of the $18 million goes into our regional areas. With that, I commend the motion. I seek leave to continue my remarks.

Leave granted; debate adjourned.

Sitting suspended from 13:00 to 14:00.

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