Enough is enough, says Dr Vanessa Picker, Independents for Canberra candidate for Brindabella: a call for equal investment in women’s sport is a call for fairness, inclusion, and equal opportunities.

I call on the ACT Government to provide equal funding for women’s teams compared to men’s teams in the same sport. This is the baseline for fairness, as women’s teams face the same operational and performance demands. Where no comparable men’s team exists, it’s even more essential to fully support women’s teams, given they represent the only professional presence in their sport. I therefore call for funding shortfalls to be addressed as a matter of urgency.

It’s time for the ACT Government to take decisive action to support women’s teams, as equal to men’s teams. I call on all candidates and parties to join my commitment to ensuring equal funding for women’s sports, closing the gender participation gap, and addressing the inequities that have long affected women athletes.

For decades, we’ve heavily invested in men’s sports, allowing them to grow into successful, stable enterprises. It’s time to extend the same level of support and investment to women’s sports.

Equality in sports shouldn’t depend on past performance or crowd numbers, especially when women’s teams have been historically denied equal media coverage and resources. Women deserve fair treatment and the opportunity to compete on a level playing field, free from discrimination.

Expecting women’s teams to meet biased metrics without providing equal support, as a condition for future funding, only perpetuates the historical inequities. Yet, despite these challenges, women’s sports are seeing unprecedented popularity – a clear signal that it’s time for fair investment.

When the ACT Government stepped in to support Canberra United with a one-off payment of $200,000, they did so only after a grassroots movement and community donations helped fill the shortfall. While the payment was welcome, it was not enough to provide long-term security for the team. It shouldn’t have required this level of public effort to save Canberra United, and even now, there are questions about the team’s future. The team is seeing its best crowds and membership, yet year after year it faces financial shortfalls, highlighting the urgent need for a fair and sustainable funding model for all women’s professional sports teams, as well as stronger investment in grassroots women’s sports to foster future talent and participation.

We’ve done a lot to build men’s sports – such as the Raiders and the Brumbies – and now it’s time to do the same for women’s sports. Men’s teams have benefited from decades of government funding and media exposure, which have bolstered their appeal and sponsorship opportunities. Women’s sport deserves the same investment.

The ACT Government provides $2.6 million annually to the Raiders and $1.78 million to the Brumbies, while Canberra United and the Canberra Capitals receive significantly less. This funding disparity must urgently be addressed. Raiders and Brumbies fans can be proud of their teams’ success, but let’s also invest in women’s sports so they can thrive too. Like any startup, women’s sports need significant initial investment to grow, and they deserve the chance to reach their full potential.

Let’s be clear – equality isn’t a pie. Supporting women’s teams doesn’t mean taking anything away from men’s teams. It’s not about slicing up a finite resource – it’s about increasing the overall investment in sports. This way, both men’s and women’s teams can have the resources they need to thrive. By expanding the overall sports budget and seeking new revenue sources, such as public-private partnerships, we can ensure that Canberra United, other women’s teams, and men’s teams like the Raiders continue to flourish.

Questions may arise about whether we can afford to expand the sports budget or whether we should prioritise it. The evidence is clear: the health benefits of physical activity extend well beyond just physical well-being, contributing significantly to mental health and fostering broader social outcomes. Investing in sport today saves substantial costs downstream in healthcare, mental health services, and other areas. If we acknowledge the value of investing in sport, then it follows that we must invest equally. This is not solely a feminist or women’s issue – it’s about prevention and healthcare, ensuring that our approach to health starts long before someone requires hospital care.

There are plenty of ineffective and inefficient programs in Canberra that could be redirected toward initiatives with proven success, like sports, by adopting a more evidence-based approach. By reallocating resources toward programs that generate clear, long-term benefits, we can maximise the impact of our public spending and ensure that we are creating healthier, more active communities.

The ACT Government has publicly acknowledged the underinvestment in women’s sports but has failed to take sufficient action to address it. By only matching Canberra United’s request for $200,000, the government missed an opportunity to do far more for women’s sports and girls’ programs across the board.

We need a sustainable and equitable funding model for all women’s professional sports, ensuring they have the same opportunities for success as men’s teams. The success of these teams is crucial for promoting gender equity and inspiring future generations of female athletes.

Beyond the underinvestment in women’s sport, I’m also highly concerned about the inadequate support being directed toward closing the gender participation gap. Girls are dropping out of sports at twice the rate of boys, particularly during adolescence, yet the government is taking insufficient action to address this alarming trend.

To close this gap, I propose:

● Increased Funding for Youth Programs, ensuring girls have access to the same coaching, facilities, and opportunities as boys.

● More Holistic Support for Female Athletes, including high-quality coaching, healthcare, and mental health services.

● Visibility and Promotion to elevate women’s sports through media campaigns and build a stronger fan base.

● Infrastructure Investment to provide women’s teams, at all levels, with equal access to top-tier training facilities and safe environments.

I call for legislation to ensure equal media coverage for women’s sports. More media coverage leads to greater sponsorship, which strengthens the long-term sustainability of women’s sports. The argument that men’s sports attract more followers and thus deserve more funding is flawed. Men’s sports have had many decades of financial and media support, allowing them to build a strong base. Equal investment isn’t truly equal when women’s sports are starting so far behind.

The above commitments are crucial for ensuring that women’s sports receive the equitable funding and support they deserve, allowing all athletes to thrive, regardless of gender. This conversation needs to continue, it’s time for change.

Views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of the publication.