Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Minister for Regional Communications) Share this | Hansard source

The federal government has a leadership role to promote sport at all levels for Australians of all abilities. We know with respect to the Winter Olympics that over one million people every year visit the snow in Australia. This helps the local economy with jobs and small businesses such as in areas in my home state of Victoria—Mount Buller, Mount Hotham and Falls Creek—where some of our athletes got their start in snow sports.

Acknowledging the important role that participation plays, the government announced last May that it would be developing a sports plan for release in 2018 that covers all levels of sport, from physical activity right up to high performance such as participation in Olympic Games. The government wants to ensure its investment in sport benefits our communities. We know the important role sport plays in social cohesion and improving mental, physical and emotional health. We also know it is a significant economic benefit to our nation.