Media Release: Greens Call For Equal Pay For Equal Play In State Of Origin
Greens NSW MP Dr Amanda Cohn has called for NSW Rugby League to commit to equal pay between its mens and womens team ahead of the game in Sydney on Thursday, wearing a Maroons jersey with the words “Equal Pay” on the back.
Dr Cohn was joined by gender equality in sport advocate and elite surfer Lucy Small to call on the NSW Premier Chris Minns to intervene and ensure the Blues and Sky Blues are paid equally. The call comes after Minns placed a bet with QLD Premier Annastasia Palaszczuk last week that would result in the losing premier donning an opposing states jersey and flying the team's flag.
Quotes attributable to Dr Amanda Cohn MLC, Greens Spokesperson for Sport & Recreation:
“Sport has huge benefits for physical and mental health, and for young women to stay in sport they need role models in elite athletes and for women’s sport to be equally visible.
“Not only is the women’s series an unsatisfying 2 matches but NSW Rugby League has deliberately entrenched a gender pay gap between the men’s and women’s State of Origin teams.
“Queensland Rugby League has made a commitment to equal pay.
“I am calling on the NSW government to use its influence with NSW Rugby League to end the deliberate gender pay gap so that I can barrack for NSW next year.”
Quotes attributable to Lucy Small, elite surfer and Co-Founder of Equal Pay for Equal Play:
“It is so disappointing that we are not seeing the equal pay in the State of Origin that the community expects and the players deserve.
The NSW Government is a partner of NSW Rugby League and it is astounding that we are seeing public money spent unfairly.”
Media Contact: Eli Davern 0437 800 477 | [email protected]