Anthony Albanese has promised $200m exclusively for women’s sporting facilities and programs

On top of a $200m grants program for women’s sport, the government will also look to making sports, like the Women’s World Cup, free-to-air.

Anthony Albanese speaks in Brisbane on Friday. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

Anthony Albanese is to unveil one of the biggest investments made in women’s sport, through a $200m grants program, and will look to make more female sporting events free on television.

The Prime Minister will on Saturday announce the “play our way” program, which will improve facilities and provide equipment specifically for women and girls.

“The Matildas have given us a moment of national inspiration,” he said. “This is about seizing that opportunity for the next generation. We want women and girls everywhere in Australia to have the facilities and the support to choose a sport they love.”

The program will allow local governments, not-for-profits and sporting organisations to seek funding for projects from next year, with the government anticipating a strong demand for soccer facilities after the Mathildas’ performance in the World Cup.

In an effort to distance such a program from the sports rorts scandal that occurred under the Coalition, Labor announced an advisory panel would be created to provide guidance on how to direct funding “where it is most needed”.

Women’s Minister Katy Gallagher said the funding would “make a difference” for women across the country and progress gender equality in sport.

“Gender equality doesn’t happen overnight, but it’s clear something has changed in Australia, and it feels like we’re getting ­closer,” she said.

In recognition of calls for more women’s sporting events to be free to air, the government is releasing a proposals paper outlining three reform models to modernise the anti-siphoning scheme.

The government’s preferred model affirms free-to-air broadcasting services as the “safety net” for free access to nationally ­important and culturally significant events. The changes could ­affect women’s rugby league, rugby union, cricket and soccer.

Communications Minister ­Michelle Rowland said Australians deserved the chance to enjoy live and free coverage of these events, no matter where they live or what they earn.

The announcement follows Opposition Leader Peter Dutton criticising the government for backing a public holiday should the Matildas have won the World Cup, arguing instead for practical policies that would ­improve women’s sporting opportunities.