Joanne Ryan (Lalor, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise to inform the House, and all of those who are avidly watching the Commonwealth Games, but particularly watching the Australian Diamonds, that we've heard today that the Australian Diamonds—after three years and after us all watching them over in Birmingham—will return to our shores with games against New Zealand in the Constellation Cup and a series against England this year.

I raise this in the House though to make another point. This netball tragic is so proud that the traditional women's sport is having an inverse conversation if you like, because the men's games will feature at both of those events. At a game against New Zealand in John Cain Arena in Melbourne and a game in Sydney against England the men's teams will be the showcase event. They will be the curtain-raiser.

We've been in this conversation now for a few years, where, predominantly, male sports are opening up, allowing women to play and giving space to leagues across the country, be it in Australian football, rugby or soccer. This is the reverse. This is a women's sport, the leading women's sport in this country, opening itself up and supporting men playing. I want to give a shout-out to all the boys in my electorate who play netball on Saturdays. You will be able to watch the men play alongside the Diamonds.