Page 3533 - Week 12 - Tuesday, 23 November 2021
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and worked long hours and over the weekend to process these grants, ensuring they could be processed as quickly as possible while ensuring appropriate public accountability and transparency in the use of public funds—a stark contrast to similar funds in other parts of the country!
Close to $300 million was allocated in this budget to support businesses in this time, and I am pleased to have worked with Minister Cheyne this year to support these grants, the hardship scheme and the continued open and robust communication between the government and the private sector. Alongside this work, the government’s plans helped the visitor economy bounce back through the 2022 action plan for recovery. The government’s commitment to Canberra’s private sector is clear.
In sport, I was thrilled to see that the ACT has continued to boast higher-than-average community participation in sports and recreation. I wholeheartedly believe we should keep up the hard work and ensure that as many Canberrans as possible have the opportunity for a sports and recreation outlet. I cannot overstate the benefits that regular sport can provide to the Canberra community. As our participation numbers increase, let me continue to encourage and advocate for the government to secure new and improved existing sports facilities to keep up with increasing demand.
On facilities, I was delighted to see that the ACT government committed to funding grants for education and training opportunities, as well as the planning and development of sports infrastructure. Specifically, I notice that funding has been allocated for the early planning of indoor sports centres. A common theme in my meeting with the sports and recreation community organisations has been a lack of facilities to meet our community’s increasing demand. With new and continued funding in this budget, it is my strong hope that this funding will be reviewed and applied systemically and with a needs-based funding model.
I was proud to introduce my motion for a comprehensive facilities management plan for sports and recreation back in April and chuffed that it received unanimous support from this Assembly. Such a plan is key to ensuring that our community sports organisations get their funds where and when they need them most, in a clear, transparent and accountable fashion.
I am excited to see that the ACT government has committed more support for women’s elite sports. In my meetings with community sports groups I have had the pleasure of meeting up-and-coming elite women athletes. These young leaders spoke passionately about their teams, their needs and the importance of receiving the same treatment as their male counterparts. I am optimistic about the future of community sports and recreation, and I trust that, with a coordinated effort, we can support those organisations that are integral to our community.
Finally, the Office of LGBTIQ Affairs, has a very ambitious year ahead, with important reforms to protect the bodily integrity of intersex people and the development of the second action plan for the Capital of Equality. I was pleased to work with the A Gender Agenda this year and speak about their work with trans and gender diverse folk in the Canberra region. I was pleased to see that the AGA have been funded $150,000 per year through this budget to continue their empowering
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