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Submission by Paul Muller on 17 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.
There are multiple silos in sports and physical recreation policy, which has resulted in the fragmented ownership of resources and delivery of services. Youth sport, for one is the responsibility of the various Departments of Education. Sport for the aged and clinically at-risk, however, appears to be the domain of Health services. Sport for the socially at-risk is ostensibly the responsibility of Departments of Justice and Human Services; whereas, professional sport remains most actively tied to Departments of Economic Development. This does not prevent Tourism, however, from staking a claim over sporting events. Departments of Sport and Recreation appear to inherit whatever is left over (including a number of activities related by leisure alone). Matters are further complicated by the three tiers of Australian federalism – the national, six state and innumerable local governments – and their often conflicting political ideologies. The fact that sport is a marginal activity in all but the specific branch of Sport and Recreation – and even that is invariably appended to a larger executive entity, such as a Department of Communities – would suggest that there is a dissonance between the high value placed on sport and the execution of strategy. Even ministerial mandate for ‘Sport’ is usually confined to a single department, despite a public posture that is more inclusive. The experience of employees is that there is little to no inter-jurisdictional communication, and only a very limited capacity to manage for holistic outcomes. Policy integration therefore devolves to those (larger) National Sporting Organisations who deliver their sports product across multiple government sectors. Although the subtle restraints of governmentality may apply to them, in the absence (or, perhaps, because) of conflict, their self-interest prevails. While this may speed the advance of certain sports, it may be to the detriment of the potential of sport itself. To that end, there is a clear need for a network of sports policy informants that continues beyond SCORS and embraces departmental as well as territorial differences. This will not only more clearly align the strategic objectives of sport and physical recreation policy, but reduce duplication, improve efficiency and minimise cost.
- 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.
No response
- 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.
Positive health messages are an important foundation; however, the critical social, psychological, knowledge, institutional and symbolic benefits of sporting participation (over mere physical activity) are not considered in the public marketing of physical recreation. While the '30 minutes a day' mantra is slowly getting across, it is time to reintroduce sport into the debate and remind the public that sporting participation is about more than just getting fit - it is a way of having fun, gaining transferable skills and contributing to society as well.
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
Incentivize and prioritize - via tax or other policy instruments - the sponsorship of amateur sporting clubs and institutions (eg 105% rebate up to $1000 per sporting club supported). Furthermore, a partial shift to the direct funding of sports clubs by government - cutting out the NSOs - will not only guarantee that funds arrive where they are needed (the faith in 'trickle down' distribution is not shared at the grass roots), but directly reduce the cost of participation and re-enthuse volunteer administration.
Page last updated: 17 March, 2009