Netball strikes historic partnership for Queensland sport

The Palaszczuk Government is committed to making sure more Queenslanders get active and stay healthy,

And the only way we can do this is by taking a collaborative approach.

We couldn’t do it without sport codes as a key part of this journey,

And Netball Queensland has helped foster Queenslanders’ passion for the sport,

By supporting everyone from the grassroots right through to elite athletes.

It’s always inspiring to see a Queensland team make their mark.

I do want to congratulate the Sunshine Coast Lightning for making it through to the Super Netball grand final last weekend,

And the Firebirds for going your hardest each and every game.

It wasn’t your year, but will be again before too long.

More Queenslanders play and watch netball than any other sport.

My daughter Scarlette is one of them along with the young players here today,

They have been inspired by players like Firebirds Gabi Simpson (Captain) and Gretel Tippet.

There are 279 active associations registered across Queensland and this initiative gives Netball Queensland the opportunity to support them even more.

They support girls like Scarlette, when she plays for her school team on Saturday mornings and afternoons with her friends.

Partnerships like this will see girls just like Scarlette offered pathways to elite success.

Today is an historic day for Queensland sport.

Today we announce the first partnership as part of the Active Industry Fund.

This initiative is a cornerstone in achieving the goals of Activate! Queensland – Queensland’s first 10-year sport and active recreation strategy.

And it is very special that Netball is that cornerstone.

Activate! Queensland

Activate! Queensland is our plan to enrich the lives of all Queenslanders through physical activity through sport, no matter who you are, where you’re from, or your circumstances.

It’s backed in with $1.3 billion over 10 years to support elite athletes, world-class venues and upscale grassroots community participation.

Active8 is the first three-year Action Plan to achieve the strategy’s goals.

As a priority, the Active 8 Action Plan establishes the Active Industry Fund.

It is about building partnerships between government, industry and community.

We recognise that better coordinated investment means more Queenslanders, especially Queensland girls, can be active.

Our Active Industry Fund, and in particular, the collaborative agreements represent a new way –

A new way underscored by partnership.

The new model of collaboration focuses on investment that delivers the greatest benefit for all Queenslanders – regardless of gender, age, ability or location.

We are committed to investing in partnerships that drive success, and our partnership with Netball will absolutely drive success.

Funding will be based on the delivery of quality, lasting physical activity experiences for all Queenslanders.

It will be based on further increasing participation in Netball,

Especially among disadvantaged Queenslanders, those facing the most barriers –

For example, kids from remote indigenous communities, or older Queenslanders like my Mum.

Incentivised funding arrangements will ensure our shared goals are achieved, such as gender equity and quality opportunities for all.

Partnership

I’ll let Netball Queensland talk through the initiatives,

but let me talk about the theory behind our partnership approach.

For a long time, we’ve had a transactional relationship with the sporting sector.

A sporting organisation would ask for money –

perhaps to deliver an event, build infrastructure, or run a program –

And if they got lucky, Government would give it to them.

And in some respects, this approach has done okay.

But, in our great State, okay just isn’t good enough.

Queensland is brimming with potential.

We have the best climate in Australia to get involved in sport,

We have incredibly talented elite athletes,

Incredibly talented women,

Incredibly talented Queenslanders,

Like Gabi and Gretel here,

And eager kids who are love getting outdoors and active, like my daughter.

But, despite all this, what we’ve seen over the years is participation rates across sport have generally decreased.

And really, what we all want is the opposite.

We all know that Queenslanders want others sharing our love for sport,

We all know that Queenslanders want our fellow Queenslanders getting active and involved.

And we all know that Queenslanders want every local kid getting a fair go.

So, by partnering together, we are going to focus on achieving these outcomes.

We are going to mobilise the embedded capability of organisations like Netball Queensland, and its associations across Queensland.

And we are going to enable initiative and innovation.

It was JFK who said:

“Partnership is not a posture, but a process –

a continuous process that grows stronger each year as we devote ourselves to common tasks”.

Activate! Queensland helps to lay out these common tasks, by setting goals like getting 60% of kids active,

To see 75% of adults get the required amount of exercise each day,

And to reach equality in sport – in participation, pay, prize-money, and as part of industry boards;

And by working together – with organisations like Netball Queensland – we will achieve them.

I’d like to wrap up by saying thank you to Netball Queensland.

Thank you for partnering with us and getting the ball rolling on this historic shift.

I’m looking forward to continuing to work with you to achieve our goal of a healthier and more active Queensland.