Australian Football League and National Rugby League clubs will "not have to comply with the state government's order" to fill 40% of their board positions with women or lose funding, according to Larissa Nicholson of THE AGE. The Andrews government has "narrowed the focus of its December gender equity announcement," saying that the board quota "would only apply to Victorian peak bodies." National sporting organizations such as Football Federation of Australia can "also continue to accept Victorian government money without any requirement for them to include a certain number of women on their boards." Sports Minister John Eren did not say "why the government had chosen to impose the reform on just one part of the sporting community." Eren said, "We need to remember that these are non-government organizations, but we want to work with them to get better outcomes for women, and more women involved both on and off the field." A special advisory committee on women and girls in sport, chaired by Richmond Football Club President Peggy O'Neal, "made the recommendation as part of an extensive report that the government said it would adopt in full." It said that a "three-year phase-in period would be reasonable for the board change" (THE AGE, 2/25).
