Cash for courts pledge: Libs

THE State Liberal Opposition is playing hardball with the Labor Government, pledging to get girls’ sports on a level playing field with more funding.

Liberal MPs meet Bayside netballers and back our Grass Ceiling campaign

THE state Opposition has pledged to provide cash to upgrade overcrowded netball courts to get women’s sports on a level playing field.

Liberal sports spokesman Damian Drum is playing hardball with the Labor Government by promising to conditionally fund upgrades to centres such as the Thomas St netball courts in Hampton if his party was in power.

The Bayside Leader’s Our Grass Ceiling campaign is becoming political, with both major parties accepting they need to do more to give women an equal chance to participate in community sports.

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Mr Drum last week visited the Hampton courts, used by more than 2000 girls on a Saturday rain, hail or shine. He told the Bayside Leader girls had clearly been “given a raw deal”.

“We would look very favourably on funding new courts on an application for improving the facilities,” Mr Drum said.

“Depending upon the exact details of the project, hypothetically we would help fund extra courts and better facilities here.”

Bayside Council has not yet drawn up definitive plans for the centre but want more courts — most of them undercover — and upgraded rooms.

Bayside Mayor Felicity Frederico welcomed Mr Drum’s netball pledge.

State Sports Minister John Eren said the Government had offered grants of up to $650,000 to develop major facilities, but the council had (so far) failed to apply for the Hampton netball courts.

“Our $10 million fund for female-friendly facilities is the single biggest investment in women’s participation in sport by a state government in Australia’s history,” Mr Eren said.

”Because everyone deserves equal facilities.”