Sport: Soccer

23rd Jun 04

Mr ORGAN (Cunningham) (9.46 a.m.) — I would like to talk about soccer and the inability of ordinary Australians to get access to international tournaments on free-to-air TV. Last week on SBS World Sports there was uproar over the fact that world soccer's second-most significant tournament, the European Cup, or Euro 2004, was not available on free-to-air TV in Australia. It is being played as we speak. On Thursday night, Les Murray reported that the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts refused to allow Euro 2004 to go free to air, and unfortunately I understand his Labor shadow, the member for Melbourne, also indicated that Labor had no plans at this stage to call for the European Cup to be added to the media antisiphoning laws list. It was likewise reported that the soccer World Cup 2010 is another omission from the list.

SBS commentators raised the issue of discrimination against the poor and low-income earners who are unable to afford pay TV and who are now missing out on Euro 2004. In the event that the Australian team makes the World Cup finals in 2010, there is a real possibility that the Australian public will not be able to see it free to air. This is a disgrace. Pay TV penetration stands at a mere 25 per cent. SBS conducted an SMS poll on Thursday night asking: should all major football tournaments be available free to air? The results of the poll, reported the following night, gave a resounding yes at 82 per cent to no at 18 per cent.

We have both government and opposition at this point in time failing to support free-to-air coverage of major sporting events such as world-class soccer tournaments. Remember that soccer has taken over as the No. 1 played team sport in Australia, with more than 1.2 million participants. It surpasses cricket, baseball, netball, Australian Rules, volleyball, rugby league and rugby union with regard to participation levels across the nation, especially amongst our youth.

We have heard a lot of talk in the House in recent weeks about childhood obesity and the need to get our children out and about more, doing physical activities such as team sports. With soccer so popular and with international events such as the European Cup, the FA Cup and the World Cup such an inspiration to young soccer players and fans in this country, it is frankly outrageous that these events are not available on free-to-air TV. As Marcel van Wijk, a local soccer coach and father of three young boys who all play soccer, pointed out to me only this week, this clearly discriminates against people who cannot afford pay TV—of which there are many such individuals and families in our community.

Why is the government allowing this to happen? There are 1.2 million active participants and, counting family and friends, all up some three to four million soccer fans in Australia but only a quarter have access to pay TV. The Greens call on the government to reconsider. Put the European Cup and the World Cup on the free-to-air list and allow soccer fans around the country to enjoy these wonderful and inspirational tournaments.