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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 5 Hansard (11 May) . . Page.. 1456 ..

MR QUINLAN: My question is to the minister for sport. Minister, you will recall that several times I have asked about the future of the Australian Institute of Sport once the Olympic Games are concluded in September. No doubt, you know that within the federal budget under the Industry, Science and Resources portfolio-"Outcome No 3, Excellence in sports performance from Australians"-there has been a quite substantial funding reduction. There are also, amongst many other staff cuts, staff cuts to the Australian Sports Commission of 331/2 jobs. Given that your colleagues seem to have had some forward knowledge of the budget, maybe you have had some discussions on it. Can you enlighten us any further as to the future of the Australian Institute of Sport in light of the Olympics nearing and in light of the federal budget and these reductions?

MR STEFANIAK: I thank the member for the question. For some time, it has been known and, indeed, feared that the federal government was going to make some changes after the Olympics and this budget was probably the one where that was going to happen. There has been a fair bit of lobbying by me and other sports ministers in relation to that, not all of them necessarily wanting the AIS to have all its operations in Canberra. But there was always this fear that there would be some cuts now. That was accepted almost as a given.

I have noted some pleasing aspects in the federal sports budget, especially the $5 million to keep some programs and some people there until after the Olympics; but in my mind, perhaps unfortunately, there was always going to be rationalisation to some extent after the Olympics, which appears to have happened. A number of sports have been bandied about by Mr Quinlan in terms of what would be cut from the program. He is right about the staff cuts. I think that they accord exactly with what I have seen in the papers.

A report in the Canberra Times this morning gives me some hope in terms of a number of the sports which were bandied about as being cut or having programs at the AIS in Canberra cease or moved. I note that that may not happen. I understand, although I have not seen the details, that there were to be some announcements made at, I think, 11 o'clock this morning. I have not got details of those yet, but I will chase them up and get Mr Quinlan a copy of exactly what the AIS has said as a result of this budget.

MR QUINLAN: I have a supplementary question as a follow-up. Are you aware of where the report that is being prepared for the federal minister is at at this stage?

MR STEFANIAK: There is a report which has gone out.

Mr Quinlan: It is only for information.

MR STEFANIAK: Yes. Not totally. It is a draft report which was actually put out several months ago and of which you probably have a copy. I am not aware of where the final one has gone. I think you have a copy of the draft. I have a copy of it. The next sports ministers conference is to be in Canberra in July. There was meant to be one in late February in New Zealand. Unfortunately, it was cancelled because Jackie Kelly had just given birth and was off duty. The next one will be hosted here in early July. That is when that report will be discussed.

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