Page 2361 - Week 07 - Thursday, 17 August 2006
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sports budget to $2.1 million but we have heard that it could be reduced to $1.8 million, the lowest it has been since 1997.
A reduction of $300,000 in funding would have a major impact on junior sport and on smaller organisations. Many organisations receive triennial funding or the odd grant here or there for a bit of equipment. If their funding is cut it will place a lot of pressure on volunteers. In many instances it means that fees will have to rise, thus reducing the participation of children in sporting activities.
With all the other pressures, for example, a $400 rate hike, a quarter of a per cent increase in home loan interest rates and various other pressures that families are having to face, some of it imposed by the government and some of it imposed by outside factors, it means less disposable income for families. Many families simply will not be able to afford any increase in registration fees for their children, which will result in their non-participation in good, healthy activities. The government’s proposal to cut grants by $300,000 is very short sighted.
Children must have good role models if they are to become active in sport. Over the past five or six years Lauren Jackson, Lucille Bailey and the girls from the Capitals have done a wonderful job raising the profile of women’s sport and women’s basketball, which has led to many girls joining that sport and wanting to be active. The same could be said about all other sports, for example, the Lakers and the Strikers in hockey, Eclipse in women’s soccer, the Comets in cricket, the Dolphins in water polo and the Raiders and Brumbies in the major football codes. All those sporting groups encourage young people to become active.
The Brumbies and Raiders national teams will still receive their $100,000 in funding every year but sports grants will go down by $120,000, which will leave only $250,000 for the other 12 teams. The following teams run on the smell of an oil rag: the Capitals and Gunners; the Lakers and Strikers; Eclipse; the Comets; the Rams; the Dolphins—I used to play with them—the Cockatoos; the Knights; and Heat.
Ms Porter: Point of order. I find this very interesting but I am wondering what it has to do with food advertising. Could the member be asked to return to the debate on food advertising?
MR STEFANIAK: This matter of public importance relates to childhood obesity. I was suggesting a few ways in which to combat childhood obesity. I am sure Minister Barr is aware that the government must fund all these sporting organisations. The government is allocating only $250,000 instead of $370,000 and that funding has to be spread across all those groups which, as I said, are running on the smell of an oil rag. If children are to engage in good, healthy physical activity they must have great role models in their respective sports.
Kids learn a lot by being active and, of course, it is a lot of fun. They learn a lot in team environments in any sport. It helps them become good citizens, it presents them with challenges and, if they have good role models who are inspiring to young people, it ensures that they extend themselves. Sport is healthy not just for the physical development of young people; it is also healthy for their mental development.
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