Wednesday, 15 May 2024

 Wendy LOVELL (Northern Victoria) (13:01): (870) My question as to the Minister for Community Sport. Will the minister allocate any funds from the 2025 budget to upgrade changing rooms at the Goulburn Murray Cricket clubs? The operations manager of Goulburn Murray Cricket has contacted me to raise the urgent need to build some suitable changing rooms at cricket grounds throughout the region. Elite competitions receive substantial funding for renovations and upgrades but grassroots cricket, where every future champion starts, is severely underfunded. The problem is especially serious for women and junior players, where a lack of suitable changing rooms can be a real barrier to participation. Young women have been inspired by standout players like Ellyse Perry, and if we want more girls to take up cricket, then the government should invest in facilities that are modern, safe and comfortable. Page 89 of the budget paper sets out a target of 45 per cent of local sports infrastructure grants being allocated to recipients that are regionally based, so allocating funds for facilities servicing cricket clubs in the Goulburn–Murray region would assist the government to meet this target.