Tuesday, 5 May 2026

 Peter WALSH (Murray Plains) (14:11): Female sport should be for females, not for players who choose to identify as female but who are not. Netball Victoria’s rule that players may participate in any affiliated competition in accordance with their gender identity is a travesty of justice for female netball players; it takes no account of the superior stamina and physique of males. I commend the coach of the Echuca United netball team, who protested against a male player playing against her team. That protest fell on deaf ears. The team then forfeited, denying the Echuca United players the opportunity to play netball that Saturday. Netball Victoria decided not to comment but passed it on to the Murray league. There is precedent. Last year the Riddell district league banned two transgender players. Why didn’t the Murray league do the same? The reason they banned those players was because of their superior stamina and physique. For those that have abused the Echuca United players and coach, resorting to calling them racist and homophobic, can I tell them that they have lost the debate before they have started, because all they can do is slander rather than express a logical reason as to why a male should play female sport.