Peter Dutton’s $500m sporting pledge

Peter Dutton will back a new $500m sporting infrastructure fund to support women’s sports and attack Anthony Albanese for ‘making the Matilda’s success all about him’.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has attacked Anthony Albanese for making the ‘Matildas’ success all about him’, as he rejects a public holiday and pitches a $500m investment in community sporting infrastructure. Picture: Martin Ollman / NCA NewsWire

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton will back a $500m community sporting infrastructure fund and launch an attack on Anthony Albanese for trying to “make the Matildas’ success all about him”.

Mr Dutton and opposition sports spokeswoman Anne Ruston on Tuesday will announce that a Coalition government would spend $250m over four years on sports infrastructure, which would be matched by the states and territories.

The Liberal leader attacked the Prime Minister’s one-off public holiday to celebrate the Matilda’s success because it will cost the economy $2bn and sidelines the recent triumphs of other female teams in the Netball World Cup and the Ashes.

“It is a stunt which will have no legacy impact. The Prime Minister has tried to make the Matildas’ success all about him. But we think there is a better way,” Mr Dutton said.

“We are opposed to Mr Albanese’s public holiday and we are announcing a policy that will instead make a lasting difference to the community and the lives of our young people.”

The Coalition infrastructure policy will be sold as capitalising on the “national attention female sports are rightly receiving and will deliver long-term benefits by boosting female participation in sport and supporting grassroots sport in our country”.

“We are committed to this proposal whether the Matildas win or lose the World Cup,” Mr Dutton said.

“And we will be proud of them whether they win or fall short.”