$200 Million Boost for Australian Women's Sports

Australia's Federal Government has unveiled a groundbreaking $200 million funding boost for women's sports, along with measures to enhance access to women's sports on free-to-air television, marking a pivotal step toward equality in sports.

In a transformative move, the federal government has pledged $200 million to bolster women's sports in Australia. The funding initiative, coupled with strategies to amplify access to women's sports on free-to-air TV, seeks to usher in a new era of inclusivity and equality in the realm of sports.

The unveiling of the Play Our Way program marks a crucial step in the evolution of women's sports infrastructure. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese emphasized the paradigm shift catalyzed by events like the Women's World Cup, labeling the investment as long overdue. "The Matildas have given us a moment of national inspiration," Albanese noted, underlining the potential for this momentum to inspire future generations.

The program's design will be steered by a panel of esteemed former female athletes, including Liz Ellis, Lauren Jackson, Madison de Rozario, and Tal Karp. This initiative is a response to Matildas captain Sam Kerr's call for enhanced support at the grassroots level following the historic Women's World Cup semi-final appearance.

Minister for Sport Anika Wells shed light on the deficiencies that the Play Our Way program intends to address. Unequal access, inadequate facilities, and limited resources for women's sports have persisted for too long. Wells stressed the importance of rectifying these issues to ensure the lifelong engagement and participation of women and girls in sports.
While the program applies to all sports, football is expected to receive significant resources due to its substantial participation rates, especially following the Women's World Cup. Guidelines for grant applications are in the works, with the expectation that they will be open for submission by early 2024.

Additionally, the announcement brings a pledge to review the anti-siphoning list, which guarantees free access to broadcasts of significant sporting events. Aiming to modernize the list to accommodate online services and prevent events from being hidden behind paywalls, the review also aims to reshape the list to reflect the prominence of women's sports and para-sports.

Potential inclusions in the list encompass the Paralympic Games, AFLW and NRLW games, and the women's State of Origin series. Furthermore, the options paper considers adding men's and women's rugby league, rugby union, cricket, and soccer matches involving senior Australian representative teams.

Minister for Communications Michelle Rowland emphasized the broader societal impact of broadcasting iconic sports and cultural events. The initiative seeks to foster a collective Australian identity while ensuring that every citizen, irrespective of location or income, can enjoy live and free coverage of these defining moments. As Australia charts a course toward a more inclusive sporting landscape, this landmark investment is set to resonate far beyond the playing field.

Australia's Federal Government commits $200 million to uplift women's sports, introducing the Play Our Way program to enhance facilities and access. An expert panel of former female athletes will contribute to the program's design. The initiative follows the Women's World Cup's impact, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese highlighting the overdue investment in women's sports. Additionally, a review of the anti-siphoning list is planned, aiming to modernize access to important sporting events, with a focus on women's sports and para-sports.