Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Hansard source

ator GALLAGHER (—) (): The Australian government is determined to pursue gender equality across the board, and we've committed more than $84 million to support the bidding, delivery and legacy of the Women's World Cup here in Australia. With that funding the Matildas have had eight extra international matches leading up to the World Cup. They've also been able to hire a second assistant coach, a psychologist, a sports scientist, a team chef and a team doctor. The Matildas now have equal staffing to our men's team, the Socceroos, which is as it should be. Our funding also supports the first technical director of female football, the first technical leader of the future Matildas program and assistant team manager for young Matildas and Matildas and the national female wellbeing manager.

As a result, almost 20 new players have now joined the Matildas program and the Matildas are the first women's football team in the world to receive the same pay as their male counterparts. At the grassroots level we are making football more inclusive and accessible to girls and marginalised communities, and we are committed to continue this in the pursuit of gender equality across sport. (Time expired)