Liberal candidate for Cranbourne, Ann-Marie Hermans has slammed Premier Daniel Andrews for handing our local community sports groups a “raw deal,” while “doling out harbour-side land in the heart of Melbourne to the AFL for free.”
In a parliamentary inquiry last week, Ms Hermans said Treasurer Tim Pallas admitted he had no idea of the value of the land recently gifted by the Andrews Labor Government to the AFL to develop a new headquarters at Docklands.
The Treasurer also confirmed to the Public Accounts and Estimates Committee there was no effort to analyse if the deal would benefit taxpayers, she said.
“Daniel Andrews is prepared to gift the AFL prime land worth – apparently – millions of dollars, while our grassroots sports clubs are left with the scraps,” Ann-Marie Hermans said.
“Our Cranbourne football and netball clubs have immediate funding needs in both their programs and infrastructure. I will fight to ensure our local families and community get more government funding.“
The $225 million for the AFL could, based on current State Government grant guidelines, cover grants for – 2,250 country football and netball clubs, 75 aquatic centres or 900 small swimming pool upgrades, she said.
Shadow Minister for Sport Danny O’Brien said it beggared belief that Daniel Andrews was giving a free kick to the AFL while “slapping our community sports clubs with interest-bearing loans to upgrade their facilities.”
“Anyone involved in sport at the grassroots level could point to a club rooms that needs replacing, a stadium that needs a new roof or a playing field that needs work,” he said.
Member for Cranbourne Jude Perera said the State Government had committed to $5 million in upgrading facilities for women’s footy at Casey Fields last month.
Home of the AFLW Demons, the funding will deliver new female change rooms, new team benches and an upgraded public-address system – making Casey Fields better for players and fields, Mr Perera said.
“Whether it’s a new uniform or bringing more footy to Casey Fields, we’re giving our local clubs the support they need to grow and be more competitive.
“An additional $15 million has been invested in the Labor Government’s $14 million Female Friendly Facilities Fund to boost sports access for women and girls – Australia’s first and biggest dedicated sport fund for female-friendly facilities,” he said.
