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Submission by Harry Wark on 02 March 2009.
2. Better place sport and physical activity as a key component of the Government's preventative health approach
- Examine Government frameworks to ensure an on-going focus on grassroots and community sport and physical activity.
No response
- Examine Government programs to increase participation rates in sport and physical activity, including analysis of existing programs.
No response
- Identify and recommend opportunities to break down barriers to participation at junior, adult and senior ages with a view to making it simpler and easier for Australians to participate in the sport or physical activity of their choice, including for women, the disabled and Indigenous people.
Sporting opportunity for all should be the principal objective of the Australian Government. The mental and physical health of the average Australian should take precedent over pampering elite participants in individual sports. At present much too much Government spending goes to 1% of Australian sporting participants. More of the money spent on sport should find its way back to the average Joe, playing for fun, exercise and cammaraderie. The Australian, NSW and Sydney Associations that administer Sport cream a large amount of money off the local clubs to finance elite athletes. The Government should not give any more money to elite sport without a binding agreement from these associations that they will not charge the local sport clubs a fee to subsidise elite sport. Cost is a large factor in preventing the average Joe in participating in grassroots sport. The average Joe should not have to finance the elite. The elite already get money from the Government to run programs, they should not slug Joe average as well, they should learn to live within their means. If it cost less to participate more Australians would do so. Australian, state and city associations should not receive any Government funding unless they undertake not to slug the average local sporting club and the average local sportsperson.
- Recommend strategies to increase the effectiveness of the promotion of sport by the Federal Government to better communicate positive health and activity messages to the broader community.
No response
3. Strengthen pathways from junior sport to grassroots community sport right through to elite and professional sport.
- Examine the capacity of the system to ensure optimal and efficient delivery of the athlete and coach pathway for any given sport.
No response
- Recommend the most effective support and recognition for the coaches, officials, umpires, administrators and volunteers who keep our community clubs alive.
No response
- Examine how relationships between the Commonwealth Government and National Sporting Organisations, State Sporting Organisations and Australia’s peak representative bodies at key multi-sports competitions may be strengthened to deliver better performance outcomes.
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
No response
Page last updated: 02 March, 2009