EQUAL pay and equal limelight in women’s sport would do far more than promote healthy, active role models, according to Victorian Minister for Women Fiona Richardson. It would generate cultural change and an attitude adjustment in treatment of women.
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Meeting the Australian women’s soccer team in Ballarat this week, Ms Richardson said a fair and level playing field would set a standard in how society valued women. Ripple effects into the home and community, she said, could play a key role in helping to stop family violence.
“The Matildas are great role models for girls and women right across the state but also encourage local sporting groups to think more about what they can do to be more inclusive for women,” Ms Richardson said. “We probably don’t give them enough credit for what they have achieved on the field, which is equal and above (male counterparts) the Socceroos.”
Ms Richardson said general perceptions of women’s sport playing runner-up to men’s sport had to stop.
The Matildas boycott a United States tour in September amid pay disputes with Football Federation Australia. The team had reached FIFA Women’s World Cup quarter-finals in June. Australia staked its spot in the Olympics via the Asian qualifiers earlier this year. Rio will be the Matildas’ first Olympics since the 2004 Athens Games.
Matildas’ co-captain Clare Polkinghorne said extra exposure, especially on television broadcasts, had dramatically drawn attention to the team and Matildas’ players.
The Matildas have a new, growing generation of young fans and Polkinghorne hoped her team could inspire more girls to have fun in the game – which girls and boys could play.
Polkinghorne said support from politicians, like Ms Richardson, meant a lot.
“It’s really important we get the support,” Polkinghorne said. “The more support and better pay we can get for ourselves will help us play better and improve our games and it’s better for the the profile of the game."
The Matildas are in final preparations for Rio with a week-long camp in Ballarat. The Matildas play a practice game against New Zealand at Ballarat Regional Soccer Facility on Saturday.
