Australia PM Anthony Albanese backs calls for public holiday if the Matildas win World Cup
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Australia's Mackenzie Arnold and her teammates celebrating their penalty shoot-out win over France on Aug 12.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Follow topic:
SYDNEY – Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Monday backed calls for a public holiday if their team win the Women’s World Cup.
The Matildas are through to the semi-finals of the tournament, which Australia is co-hosting with New Zealand, after a gripping penalty shoot-out win against France
They play European champions England in Sydney on Wednesday in a match likely to smash Australian TV viewing figures for a football game.
“I’ve said that the state and territory leaders should consider it and I know that it’s received a pretty warm reception in most quarters,” Mr Albanese said in a radio interview with state broadcaster ABC, when asked if calls for a public holiday were justified.
“This is something much more than just a sporting event. This is an inspiration to young girls in particular, but also young boys.”
Australia’s federal system means additional public holidays can be called individually by its states and territories, with Mr Albanese saying the issue will be discussed with regional leaders on Wednesday.
Chris Minns, the leader of the country’s most populous state of New South Wales, on Monday pledged to declare a public holiday within a week of the final if the Matildas win.
Football has long lagged behind other more popular footballing codes like rugby league and Australian Rules in the country, with the women’s game in particular struggling with sparse crowds and a lack of funding.
But the Matildas’ World Cup matches have sold out months in advance, with millions watching at home in numbers not seen since the Sydney Olympics in 2000.
In 1983, then Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke effectively declared a national public holiday after an Australian crew ended 132 years of United States dominance of the America’s Cup sailing race, famously saying that “any boss who sacks anyone for not turning up today is a bum”.
The Matildas will have an overseas supporter in French President Emmanuel Macron, and not for reasons of traditional French-British rivalry.
Mr Macron made his bold diplomatic move, which he said was “nothing personal”, after Australia knocked out France in a thrilling 7-6 penalty shoot-out in Brisbane on Saturday.
Ahead of the match, Mr Albanese had challenged his French counterpart on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, saying whichever side lost would support the other team in the semi-finals.
“Nothing personal against our English friends, but a bet is a bet... Good luck Australia for the semi-finals!”, Mr Macron replied, after his team’s agonising loss.
“Happy to have you cheering on @TheMatildas in the semis,” Mr Albanese replied, praising both sides in the France-Australia clash for an “incredible game”.
The friendly banter marks a big change from 2021, when the previous Australian government blindsided Mr Macron by tearing up a multi-billion dollar French submarine deal, prompting a furious response by the French.
