Amanda Stoker (Queensland, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Youth and Sport. Will the Minister inform the Senate on the benefits of hosting major international sporting events in Australia, such as the ICC T20 Cricket World Cup, and explain how the government is on the side of our tourism industry?

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! I remind senators on my left that I need to be able to hear all questions.

Richard Colbeck (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Australian government is proud to be supporting the International Cricket Council's ICC T20 World Cup in 2020 here in Australia. This includes coordinating support across a number of areas, including safety, security, taxation, immigration, Customs, intellectual property rights and, of course, event promotion. The coalition has this week thrown our support behind the event by providing $5 million in funding to Tourism Australia in the 2019-20 budget to market the event specifically in India, Australia's fastest growing tourism market.

Earlier this week, the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment and I had the pleasure of meeting with Australian cricketers to make this announcement. We met with Billy Stanlake and Kristen Beams here in Canberra. We discussed the importance of promoting the event on an international scale and ensuring that Australian sport remains a world leader, which we are recognised as being, in hosting major international sporting events. It has been fantastic to see the Australian women's cricket team and their dominance in the recent Ashes competition. I congratulate them on their success and trust that will continue into the final game tonight. I certainly hope that that success rubs off on the men's team, who commence their Ashes campaign tomorrow night.

Our funding will be used to drive visitation to both the men's and women's tournaments next year. The women's tournament is starting next year. I certainly hope that we can meet the aspiration of hosting the world's largest ever crowd to a women's sporting event on International Women's Day at the MCG for the final next year.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Stoker, a supplementary question?

Amanda Stoker (Queensland, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Will the minister outline the important of hosting international sporting events in terms of the development and growth of Australia's sporting industry?

Richard Colbeck (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As a part of Australia's national sport plan, Sport 2030, the government is committed to strengthening Australia as sporting industry to promote and sustain industry growth, including through the coordinated delivery of major sporting events, such as the ICC T20 World Cup. Consistent with the aims of Sports Diplomacy 2030, hosting the ICC T20 World Cup will strengthen Australia's sport and provide a platform to leverage sport to maximise trade, tourism and investment opportunities. Outside of the ICC T20 World Cup, we're investing up to $10 million to bring the Olympics back to Australia by supporting the bid for South-East Queensland for the 2032 Olympics. We are also backing Football Federation Australia's bid for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, and wouldn't it be so cool to see them playing on Australian soil?

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Stoker, a final supplementary question?

Amanda Stoker (Queensland, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Can the minister update the Senate on the government's commitment to ensuring our nation remains a global leader in sport and major events? Can you inform us of the flow of benefits of hosting these events?

Richard Colbeck (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Hosting the T20 World Cup will further strengthen Australia's already strong reputation as a world leader in hosting major international sporting events. It will also help to inspire the next generation of Australian sporting heroes through increasing participation, like Senator Watt this morning playing walking football.

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Northern Australia) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Hear, Hear!

Richard Colbeck (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I hope you scored a couple of goals.

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Walking football?

Richard Colbeck (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Walking football—a new sport. Supporting major events and high-performance sport in Australia is critical not only for inspiring the next generation of athletes but also for driving greater levels of participation in sport, such as Senator Watt playing walking football this morning.

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Northern Australia) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's made for older people!

Richard Colbeck (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's made for us all, Senator Watt. The goal laid out in our Sport 2030 plan is for Australia to be the most active sporting nation—a healthy, successful sporting nation with a vibrant participation base, thriving sports organisations and a world-leading sports industry.