Joanne Ryan (Lalor, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise today to mark a landmark agreement, an industrial relations breakthrough, for Netball Australia and the players' association. They set a new benchmark for women's sport. They have doubled the minimum salary for netballers in a semiprofessional sport. I want to congratulate Bianca Chatfield, who heads the players' association and who said today:

The athletes are excited that netball has committed to invest a greater proportion of its revenue than any other sport, male or female, into its athletes—

This is really something to celebrate.

On this side of the House we love to promote sport but we love to promote fairness even more. I hail those involved in these negotiations. That includes Marne Fechner, a girl from the west of Melbourne who was also involved in negotiating this fantastic outcome for netballers across the country. This means that, when our players in our national league—and I carry today my Vixens scarf—when I pay my membership to the Vixens this year I will be making a contribution to those players' salaries to see women in sport. They are leading the way. The Diamonds had a great weekend last weekend. The Vixens will have a great season starting next week. They will beat that Collingwood team coming in. But, most importantly, these players will have their livelihoods protected.

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