WOMEN IN SPORT

The Matildas captured the heart of the nation at last year's FIFA Women's World Cup. We were delighted today to have Michelle Heyman and Lydia Williams in the parliament. It didn't matter last year if you were young or old, male or female. We were united in cheering on our incredible women athletes, and we'll get to do that again when the AFC Women's Asian Cup is held here in 2026.

Thanks to the Play Our Way program being rolled out by the Albanese government, local clubs in the Blue Mountains and Hawkesbury can do their part in giving the next generation of sportswomen and athletes a brighter future. The program will invest $200 million across the country for sporting clubs and organisations to improve access to sport for women and girls, build more suitable facilities and roll out grassroots initiatives to help them participate in sport throughout their lives. Lots of us have had our daughters change into their soccer gear in the car rather than go and use some horrible old toilets at the field they're playing at. I'm really urging sports clubs and organisations in the Blue Mountains and Hawkesbury to get cracking and get applications in to make improvements.

We know the benefits of playing sport continue throughout your lifetime, yet one in two girls will stop playing a sport by the time they reach the age of 17. Now is the time to encourage girls to score a goal, jump in a pool, pick up a bat and get involved in sport.