Mrs SALLY QUINNELL (Camden) (12:37): My question is addressed to the Minister for Sport. Will the Minister please give an update on the Matildas' historic performance at the FIFA Women's World Cup and how we will use this to continue to highlight the sporting achievements of women?
The SPEAKER: I call the member for North Shore to order for the second time.
Mr STEPHEN KAMPER (Rockdale—Minister for Small Business, Minister for Lands and Property, Minister for Multiculturalism, and Minister for Sport) (12:38): How good were the Matildas? I thank the member for Camden, a football zealot and a great advocate for women's sport. There are moments in sport when time stands still, when a nation holds its breath in anticipation and in hope. Think of Australia II, the boxing kangaroo flag unfurled, crossing the line in Newport to claim the America's Cup. Think of Cathy Freeman entering the straight in Sydney and powering on to win the 400 metres Olympic gold. Australia's women's national football team, the Matildas, have delivered our latest great sporting moment.
[An Opposition member interjected.]
Come on, celebrate the Matildas. Cortnee Vine's penalty kick did more than just secure the Matildas a place in the world cup semifinal. It secured the team's place in history, along with a place in our collective hearts. At the start of the tournament, who would have believed we would need not one but three stadiums to watch the semifinal game? Every Australian—maybe not some of those opposite—is proud of this team, proud of what they have done for football in this country and proud of what they have done for women's sport. They have created a legacy that will echo through generations to follow, and that legacy must be remembered.
The SPEAKER: The member for North Shore will come to order.
Mr STEPHEN KAMPER: We have committed to a mural on the face of Stadium Australia to remind us of the team that changed the nation. This is the beginning of our female recognition program with Venues NSW. We have already moved swiftly to implement another election commitment—to celebrate our greatest female athletes by naming the eastern stand at Accor Stadium after them. We will have more to announce on that shortly. We are not negative and miserable like those opposite. It has been a privilege to be the Minister for Sport during this special time. [Extension of time]
Now that the last game has been played, the work begins to capitalise on the momentum and excitement the Matildas created. That means investing in our grassroots sporting communities and public infrastructure. The starting point is our election commitment to make New South Wales State Sporting Organisations [SSOs] the best funded in Australia. We are increasing funding to SSOs through the Organisation Support Program to $5 million in 2023-24 and $10 million in 2024-25. An essential element of the additional direct funding will be agreed outcomes to increase female participation. We will also deliver $10 million in community infrastructure programs through the NSW Football Legacy Program, providing more opportunities for people of all ages and abilities across the State.
We will have more to announce in the budget in a couple of weeks, but, for now, let us reflect on the greatest FIFA Women's World Cup ever. We have achieved a record attendance of more than 1.9 million people. The FIFA Fan Festival site at Tumbalong Park, just one of the community live sites, hosted 250,000 people. More than 15,000 people at Allianz and CommBank Stadiums watched the semifinal on a screen. Every single match hosted at Stadium Australia was a sellout. This FIFA Women's World Cup reached a global audience of two billion people, the highest on record. Domestically, it has broken record after record in TV viewership. More than 11.1 million people watched the semifinal, making it the most watched TV event ever, by a margin of three million. The Matildas led from the front, in more ways than one. They remind me of something the late, great Australian coach Rale Rasic used to say, "They provided service beyond the contract."
The SPEAKER: I draw the Minister's attention to the clock. I agree that it was a fantastic event. We will discuss it for some time, but his time has expired. I call the member for Newtown.
