Women lawn bowlers to be free to bowl again

The Baillieu Government will legislate to make clear that women-only lawn bowls competitions will be permitted again in Victoria.

The Government has introduced amendments to the Equal Opportunity Act into Parliament to overcome restrictions that have seen most women-only lawn bowls competitions outlawed in Victoria.

The amendments will make clear that single sex sporting competitions will be allowed if the competition is intended to facilitate participation in the sport by players of one sex and if there are reasonable alternative opportunities for players of the other sex.

This will overcome the effects of a ruling by VCAT in 2001 that held that the strength, stamina or physique of bowls competitors is not relevant and thus the exemption in the current legislation does not allow players of one sex to be excluded from competitions.

This ruling has had a devastating effect on women’s bowls in Victoria, with many women bowlers giving up playing rather than being forced to take part in competitions where men are allowed to play in women’s bowls teams.

“The change we are making is a victory for common sense,” Attorney-General, Robert Clark, said today.

“Equal opportunity laws should be about protecting people from unjust and unfair discrimination, not about preventing people from taking part in sporting activities they have enjoyed for years.”

“Many women bowlers just do not find it fair that men are allowed to take part in what used to be women-only competitions,” Minister for Sport and Recreation, Hugh Delahunty said.

“The result has been that many women have been driven away from taking part in a sport which they love and which has previously provided them with healthy exercise and promoted friendly and supportive social activity.

“The changes we are making to the law will be good for sport, and good for the health and wellbeing of many women who will feel comfortable again about taking up or returning to bowls,” Mr Delahunty said.

Under the amendments, sporting organisations like Bowls Victoria will be able to offer competitions in the way they consider will best promote participation in the sport, be it single sex or mixed-sex competitions, so long as reasonable opportunities exist for both sexes. As with the current exemption, the change will not apply to sporting activities for children under 12.

“This is a balanced, common-sense reform that will allow sporting organisations to conduct their affairs in the way they believe will encourage people to get involved in their sport,” Mr Clark said.