Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Minister for Regional Communications) Share this | Hansard source

He loves a point of order, does Senator Farrell. Thank you—30 seconds in. Indeed, the promotion and viewing of women's sport is incredibly important to ensure that young women are inspired and motivated to participate in physical activity and that they can see actual role models, whether it is Caitlin Bassett as the captain of our Australian Diamonds or Sam Kerr—what a fabulous international athlete—as one of our fabulous Matildas. So it is important that not only are young women able to see our female athletes on free-to-air, such as our AFL Women's broadcast or our WBBL—our fabulous cricketers—but that right across our broadcast offerings women participating in sport can be viewed by young women to ensure that they see appropriate role models.

So, Senator Farrell, I have absolutely no issue with Fox Sports being given an incentive to promote women's sport; nor do I have an issue with Nine Network investing with Netball Australia to broadcast those women's sports; nor, indeed, with Network Ten and WBBL. Right across the broadcasting spectrum, we need to ensure that all young women can look up and see footballers, swimmers, netballers— (Time expired)