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Submission by Rod Carter on 07 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
Tax relief for parents who have kids playing sport Dear Sport Panel, I have a suggestion to help obesity in school age children aged 5-18 yrs old in this country. Now this is only for kids aged 5-18 yrs old and at school fulltime. Parents/carers can claim back at tax time an amount e.g. $300.00 for their first child playing an organized sport, $700.00 for two children playing an organized sport, $1200.00 for three & $1800.00 for the fourth and or more children playing organized sport. The reason for the amount going up per child is to help the larger families. To claim this rebate you will have to show registration and a receipt from that sporting organization and also any receipt for the equipment needed for that sport. You only get the full amount e.g. $300.00 if you can show you have spent $300.00 or more for that sport. If you can only show receipts for $150.00, then you can only claim that amount back at tax time. Again for the $700.00, $1200.00 and $1800.00. Volunteer officials/coaches can also claim up to $150 per year for their sporting equipment/clothes they purchase (club shirt, shorts & shoes). I believe this will help parents who want their kids to play organized sport but find the cost too much. We have all seen and heard from the health professionals saying obesity is a problem now that we need to address for the future of our kids health, and the future health cost for our country. I know there will be arguments about what activities would be covered & what activities won’t be covered. E.G. is dancing a sport. I would argue first lets get the support for this then worry about what activities would be covered or wouldn’t be covered. You may wish to change the amounts please do, only if you are going to pay more. Sport is expensive especially cricket, hockey and baseball just to name a few. Yes there are many other sports like athletic, canoeing, rugby, soccer, AFL, netball, softball, tennis and so on. I look forward to your response Rod Carter.
3. Strengthen pathways from junior sport to grassroots community sport right through to elite and professional sport
Dear Sport Panel, Little Athletics (LA's) & Athletics Australia (AA) are as far apart as the Grand Canyon, why is this so? Both of these organisations want to achieve the same out comes. This is to enhance the athlete's ability to go as far as possible in this sport, but this is not being done. I believe both of these organisations need to come under the one banner/one control. LA's is from under 6 to under 17 years of age. AA is from under 14 upward. LA's has an under 13 National Championship (only 22 athletics per state male and female is allowed) and a multi under 15 National Championship (only 2 athletics per state male and female allowed) yearly. But they do nothing for there athletics after this age. Why then does LA's have up to under 17years of age? AA has National under 18 and under 20 Championships, plus open championships yearly. I suggest the following: LA's to scrap the under 13 and multi under 15 National Championships and have an under 14 and under 16 National championships yearly. If you want to have a cap on each state team, allow the number to be big enough to cover all events & relays eg 4 x 400m. In the under 16 National championships you could also have a multi event championship. Other sports in Australia have state and Australian championships for kids in these age groups. To be competitive against these other sports Athletics needs to offer these kids the same type of National competition, at the very least. Regards Rod Carter
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
No response
Page last updated: 07 October, 2008