Labor believes it is essential that ATSIC’s Indigenous Sport Program (ISP) continue as a venture managed jointly by ATSIC and the Australian Sports Commission (ASC).
Recent calls from senior figures within ATSIC to axe the ISP would have significant negative impacts on Australian Indigenous communities.
Involvement in sports programs have clearly helped ATSIC achieve some of its core objectives: improved health outcomes; reduction of substance abuse and family violence and diversion from crime and anti-social behaviour.
At the national level ATSIC’s ISP provides jobs for 50 Indigenous Sports Development Officers and 350 Indigenous Sports Programs around Australia, which are essential to develop sporting opportunities for Indigenous people.
Axing of the ISP would seriously damage the future of Indigenous involvement in sport, from grass roots community sport through to the elite level.
Labor calls on Sports Minister Kemp to support ATSIC’s ISP program rather than making an opportunist attempt to grab funds for the ASC.
Contact: Kate Roffey – (02) 6277 3334 or 0411 969 364
