The Howard Government is under attack for their negligence of sport infrastructure.
Today, 11 key sports joined the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA), the Confederation of Australian Sport, and the National Growth Areas Alliance in calling for an investment in community infrastructure.
Senator Brandis should be embarrassed that his Government has had 11 years to deal with the decline in social and community facilities, such as sport and recreation infrastructure and has not acted.
The Howard Government announced 38 specific sports facility grants during the 2004 election campaign. The overwhelming majority of these grants were in marginal Liberal seats, a staggering 22 grants were shared between only two marginal Liberal seats.
Mr Howard has had 11 years to act and has failed to provide sporting clubs with any criteria, process or program to apply for this type of funding.
The facts are that the burden of cost-shifting, ageing and drought affected social infrastructure is too much for many local governments to bear. Our communities have suffered as a result of Howard Government neglect in this important area over 11 years.
Social and recreational facilities are a critical part of community life – and only Labor is serious about addressing their needs.
Contact: Taryn Langdon 0417 148 059
