Federal Shadow Minister for Sport and Youth Affairs, Senator Kate Lundy today condemned the Minister for Sport, Jackie Kelly, for failing to properly address the issue of children’s competitive boxing and for her distinct lack of leadership on the issue.
Following today’s Australian Sport and Recreation Ministers’ Council meeting in Canberra, Senator Lundy said that the NSW Minister for Sport and Recreation, Gabrielle Harrison, should be commended for taking the initiative on this issue. However it is very disappointing that not one other Minister, including the Federal Minister supported Ms Harrison’s moves to ban children’s competitive boxing.
At a joint door stop with the NSW Minister, Senator Lundy said that all States should introduce legislation banning competitive boxing for children under 14 years of age.
Following a meeting with the AMA President, Dr David Brand, Senator Lundy said that there is overwhelming medical evidence that serious health risks for children result from constant and repetitive blows to the head. At the very least the rules for junior competitive boxing should be changed to ban direct punching to the head.
Senator Lundy said that the spectacle of young children in a boxing match seen earlier this week is clearly unacceptable and showed the need for legislation prohibiting competition boxing outside the auspices of the Australian Amateur Boxing Union.
It is essential that Governments at every level ensure that risk of injury to sports participants, especially children, is minimised. Failure to do this defeats the whole purpose of encouraging people to participate in sport and recreation.
Contact: Simon Tatz on 0418 488295
