Sports clubs funding
Rikkie-Lee TYRRELL (Northern Victoria) (12:20): (102) My question is for the minister representing the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events. Can you explain why the grassroots football clubs who are attached to the leagues that are not affiliated with the AFL are unable to access the same government grants as those who are? Some of these clubs serve as community centres and emergency evacuation hubs and are in desperate need of facility upgrades. These individual clubs do not have the option to affiliate themselves with the AFL if their affiliated leagues choose not to.
Harriet SHING (Eastern Victoria – Minister for Water, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Commonwealth Games Legacy, Minister for Equality) (12:21): Thank you very much for that question. For the record, I am not known for my prowess on the AFL or indeed the basic principles that underpin that particular code. I do understand, however, that it is a very, very popular leisure time activity. My process when watching any of these sorts of things is that I really just hope that both teams get out there and have a lot of fun. I am not ideally placed to answer that question on behalf of Mr Dimopoulos, but what I will do, given his comparative expertise in the area, is seek an answer for you from him in accordance with the standing orders.