In a dismal performance the Howard Government has ensured that every Australian, from elite athlete to weekend walker, has been overlooked in this year’s sports budget.
According to budget figures released last night, the Government has committed $273 million to the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games, and $0.00 to grass roots development and participation.
Last year the ASC spoke out regarding concerns that the impact that the Howard Governments ongoing funding cuts to sports and recreation at the grass roots level were having on Australia’s potential to turn out elite sports people.
Minister Kemp, on behalf of the Howard Government promised to take steps to bring about change. The fact however that not one extra cent has been committed to grassroots development and participation in sport and recreation in this budget clearly highlights the Government’s absolute lack of concern for sport development and participation.
While it is nothing new for the Howard Government to ignore grassroots sport, in this years budget elite sport has missed out as well.
If Minister Kemp’s propaganda is to be believed, the Howard Government has made a massive commitment to improving sport in Australia via its $273 million investment in the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games.
What Minister Kemp failed to mention is that none of this money will go toward providing direct assistance for the athletes who will be competing in Melbourne in 2006, many of whom come from sports who receive no funding support from any other source.
In fact this money is going to the Department of Defence, Attorney-Generals Department, the Australian Federal Police, the Department of Transport and Regional Services, the Department of Immigration, Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs, and ASIO. To every portfolio it seems, but sport.
Even the $55.3m so called ASC funding from all areas for the 16 sports on the Games program is set to be spent on AIS operations rather than athletes.
Contact: Kate Roffey – (02) 6277 3334 or 0411 969 364
