Senate debates
Tuesday, 13 February 2018
Motions
Sport
4:02 pm
Richard Di Natale (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
I move:
That the Senate notes that:
(a) the provision of local community sporting facilities is integral to ensuring grassroots participation in sport;
(b) the upcoming National Sports Plan, due for release in May this year, must allocate significant funds to supporting local sporting infrastructure;
(c) many suburban areas, such as within the City of Darebin, Victoria, are struggling to provide high quality sport and recreation facilities, due to high levels of projected growth;
(d) in the case of the City of Darebin, this growth has been projected at 25 per cent over the next 20 years;
(e) the Victorian State Labor Government is yet to deliver on their promise of 64 competition-compliant netball courts within the City of Darebin; and
(f) the Federal Government has a responsibility to fund multi-sport stadiums, such as the Darebin Multi Sports Stadium at John Cain Memorial Park in the suburb of Thornbury, Victoria.
James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
I seek leave to make a short statement.
James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
The government does not support this motion, as the capital funding of multisport stadiums is not the primary responsibility of the Australian government. The Australian government already makes a significant contribution to sport, with over $357 million invested to support sport and recreation in 2016-17. The Australian government supports grassroots participation in sport, including through the Girls Make Your Move campaign, which specifically encourages young women to be more active through sport and physical activity.
Anthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
I seek leave to make a short statement.
Anthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
Labor has a strong record of support for local grassroots sporting facilities because we understand the true value of sport in our communities. The former Labor government invested nearly $200 million in sport facilities across Australia, the vast majority for local community sport. Labor believes that all Australians should have the opportunity to participate in sport and physical activity and to enjoy the health and wellbeing benefits it provides.
The Victorian state Labor government is delivering more netball courts in Darebin, giving the community the space they need to grow their clubs and welcome new members. Five new courts have been built and recently opened at JC Donath Reserve and JE Moore Park. Twenty-three more are on track to be built in Darebin, including two at Northcote High School, three at Darebin Community Sports Stadium, one at Fairfield Primary School, six at Thornbury High School and two at Reservoir High School. The Andrews Labor government has also announced funding to start design work for four new outdoor courts at John Cain Memorial Park.
4:04 pm
Richard Di Natale (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
I seek leave to make a short statement.
Richard Di Natale (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
The provision of local community sporting facilities is absolutely integral for our communities. It provides space for people to gather, for families to connect and for children to become active and participate in sport. Yet we often see governments make promises to communities which they do not intend to keep. The City of Darebin is struggling to meet the demand of its population growth and to provide adequate sporting facilities for its residents. Despite the Victorian state Labor government promising additional facilities in the lead-up to the 2014 election, four years later the community still is holding its breath for the 64 competition-compliant netball courts they had been promised in Northcote, in Reservoir, in places that we know desperately need them. I urge the Victorian state government to deliver on their commitment to the people of Darebin in the electorate of Batman rather than to continue the broken promises they have become known for.
Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
The question is that motion No. 703, standing in the name of Senator Di Natale, be agreed to.