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Submission by Confederation of Australian Motor Sport Ltd on 15 October 2008.
1. Ensure Australia's continued elite sporting success
No response
2. Better place sport and physical activity as a key component of the Government's preventative health approach
Australia has a vast network of regional and community recreational clubs. However, government (Federal/ State/ Local) together with the sporting industry need to develop a 'whole of sport' strategy for the ongoing provision of appropriate sporting facilities. Like most sports, CAMS have a healthy network of clubs throughout Australia (approx 400), however it is inevitable that the biggest challenge that our sport will face in the future is the appropriate provision of facilities. For the benefit of the whole community, it would make sense that future recreational and sporting facilities are truly multi-purpose that can be used by the broader community for a variety of activities. With the assistance of the Victorian Government in 2007, CAMS undertook a report on motor sport facilities in Victoria with a view to developing a facilities strategy. The findings of this report clearly demonstrated that CAMS and other motor sport oriented sports needed to coordinate its approach towards facilities management and strategies. On the strength of this, CAMS have actively engaged with like sports to identify synergies not only in facility needs, but also other areas where combined resources could be beneficial to all parties but also to the broader community. Such cross-pollination needs to be encouraged in the sporting industry and within government at all levels to ensure that resources are pooled and shared in the most effective and efficient way, which will inevitably lead to better funding allocation and improved facilties and resources for the whole community.
3. Strengthen pathways from junior sport to grassroots community sport right through to elite and professional sport
No response
4. Maintain Australia's cutting edge approach to sports science, research and technology
No response
5. Identify opportunities to increase and diversify the funding base for sport through corporate sponsorship, media and any recommended reforms, such as enhancing the effectiveness of the Australian Sports Foundation
Grass roots participation in sport has many benefits including promoting health and fitness together with the many community benefits that are associated with such participation. Motorsport is unique in that the majority of our sport in Australia is conducted in regional areas and local communities in road registered vehicles. It is also one sport where the whole family can participate on the same terms, in a healthy environment. Such particpation can also have other 'spin off' benefits like promoting better driving and enabling young people (from the age of 12) to develop basic car handling skills in a controlled environment that will inevitably assist with driving skills on the road. Given the many known and demonstrated benefits that grass roots sport participation has and the associated benefit that this has on the community (i.e. sport promotes fitness & health, therefore the health system benefits) there are clearly some beneficiaries whose investment in grass roots participation could have a direct impact in minimising costs. For example: 1/ Health Insurance Companies would benefit from increased participation in sport. Therefore consideration should be given to implementing an insurance levy can be collected and distributed to sports who actively promote sport at grass roots level 2/ Club based motor sport has obvious benefits in enabling participants to develop important driving skills that will lead to safer driving on the roads. Similar to point 1, car insuranace companies and other agencies such as the TAC should be encouraged to invest in such activities.
Page last updated: 15 October, 2008