❓ Mr. Rundle questions the decision to cut Netball WA funding, highlighting its importance. The Premier acknowledges netball's popularity and grassroots support, but defers to WAIS's decision-making and highlights the professionalisation of women's sport.
AnsweredQoN 579Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
WESTERN AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF SPORT —
NETBALL WA
579. Mr P.J. RUNDLE to the Premier:
I refer to the shocking decision by
the Western Australian Institute of Sport to cut Netball WA from its program after nearly 40 years. Netball is the highest
participation female team sport in Western Australia. This is a community sport that brings Western Australians together and is a major sport featured in
the Commonwealth Games. Is the government
now interested only in winning Olympic medals rather than supporting our
homegrown netball champions?
NETBALL WA
579. Mr P.J. RUNDLE to the Premier:
I refer to the shocking decision by
the Western Australian Institute of Sport to cut Netball WA from its program after nearly 40 years. Netball is the highest
participation female team sport in Western Australia. This is a community sport that brings Western Australians together and is a major sport featured in
the Commonwealth Games. Is the government
now interested only in winning Olympic medals rather than supporting our
homegrown netball champions?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question
because our netballers are the pride of Australian sport, and certainly of Western Australian sport. I remember the loudest
place I have ever experienced, which was at the RAC Arena in the last
minutes of the final that the West Coast Fever was in, I think, last year. The
following for netball is extraordinary. It does not matter where in Western Australia
we go on a Saturday morning, we can see young people playing netball
everywhere, literally by the thousands. We will continue to make sure that we
support these grassroots sports. The Western Australian Institute of Sport's
job is to develop the high-performance cohorts of people who are playing in this area. I cannot speak for the WA Institute
of Sport and I have not been briefed on those things, but recently in Australia we have seen a huge increase in the
valuing of women's sport. Essentially, we have seen the
professionalisation of those sports. Nowadays, if a young woman is looking to
make her way in netball, she would be targeting the opportunity to be part of
the development squad of West Coast Fever. That would, of course, provide her
with the opportunity to get to the very highest level of development. That is
not available to people in athletics or a lot of other sports, which is why we
rely on the WA Institute of Sport. As I said, I have not been briefed on this
matter and, ultimately, that is a decision for the WA Institute of Sport. Our
support for sport, particularly grassroots sports and netball, is well known
and world renowned, and we will continue to support it.
because our netballers are the pride of Australian sport, and certainly of Western Australian sport. I remember the loudest
place I have ever experienced, which was at the RAC Arena in the last
minutes of the final that the West Coast Fever was in, I think, last year. The
following for netball is extraordinary. It does not matter where in Western Australia
we go on a Saturday morning, we can see young people playing netball
everywhere, literally by the thousands. We will continue to make sure that we
support these grassroots sports. The Western Australian Institute of Sport's
job is to develop the high-performance cohorts of people who are playing in this area. I cannot speak for the WA Institute
of Sport and I have not been briefed on those things, but recently in Australia we have seen a huge increase in the
valuing of women's sport. Essentially, we have seen the
professionalisation of those sports. Nowadays, if a young woman is looking to
make her way in netball, she would be targeting the opportunity to be part of
the development squad of West Coast Fever. That would, of course, provide her
with the opportunity to get to the very highest level of development. That is
not available to people in athletics or a lot of other sports, which is why we
rely on the WA Institute of Sport. As I said, I have not been briefed on this
matter and, ultimately, that is a decision for the WA Institute of Sport. Our
support for sport, particularly grassroots sports and netball, is well known
and world renowned, and we will continue to support it.
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