With Budget Night having come and gone this week I’m sure sports fans of all persuasions are interested in whether the Federal Government has thrown a bone in the direction of their favoured sport.
Who is getting what out of the budget is a popular topic of discussion throughout the community, especially among sports administrators as they inevitably compare notes about who did the best from the pork barrelling.
To avoid future bouts of misinformation, and as a future reference for the debates that invariably draw in questions about which sports are blessed with the greater government largesse, I thought it would be pertinent to go straight to the horse’s mouth and provide a complete listing of sports-related budget measures.
The budget measures listed are contained within the regional Australia, local government, arts and sports portfolio, beginning on on page 247 of the no.2 budget paper.
This information is listed in the same order as presented in the budget paper, using their titles and descriptors.
Active After-School Communities program – extension
Australian Sports Commission – $39.2 million over two years to continue this program.
Adelaide Oval Redevelopment – contribution
$30.0 million in 2011-12 towards the redevelopment of the Adelaide Oval.
Bellerive Oval – contribution
$15.0 million in 2011-12 towards the redevelopment of Bellerive Oval in Hobart. This funding will contribute to the extension of the Southern Stand, increasing its capacity from 16,000 to 20,000. The redevelopment of Bellerive Oval will enhance its capacity to host AFL games and cricket matches as part of the 2015 Cricket World Cup.
Community Street Soccer and Reclink
$2.0 million over two years to the Community Street Soccer program and $0.6 million in 2013-14 to Reclink Australia.
Football in Western Sydney – contribution
$8.0 million in 2011-12 to support football in Western Sydney including $5.0 million to the FFA (which includes $1.0 million for the W-League); and $3.0 million to Football New South Wales towards the redevelopment of its headquarters at Parklea.
The cost of this measure will be offset by redirecting funding from the Riverstone Football and Sporting Precinct Community Infrastructure Initiative.
Illicit Drugs in Sport – savings
The Government will achieve savings of $5.8 milllion over four years from the out of competition testing and research components of the Illicit Drugs in Sport program.
Jim Stynes Achievement Scholarships for Young Australians
$3.0 million in 2011-12 to establish the Jim Stynes Achievement Scholarships to help young Australians to achieve their education, community and sporting goals. The 37 scholarships will be delivered in partnership with the AFL, who will provide $0.15 million for the next five years, and the Reach Foundation.
King George V Sports and Community Precinct – contribution
$8.7 million in 2011-12 to the Glenorchy City Council as a contribution towards the redevelopment of the King George V sports and community precinct in Glenorchy, Tasmania.
Manuka Oval lighting upgrade – contribution
$2.5 million to the Australian Capital Territory Government in 2011-12 as a contribution towards the upgrade of the lighting at Manuka Oval in Canberra. The improved lighting will enable Manuka Oval to host international cricket matches in the lead up to the 2015 Cricket World Cup.
Netball Australia – contribution
$2.5 million in 2011-12 towards the construction of a specialised facility for Netball Australia in Melbourne.
Olympic Park Precinct Community Sports Centre – Contribution
$10 million in 2011-12 as a contribution towards the development of a new community sports centre in the Olympic Park precinct in Melbourne.
Supporting Football in the lead up to the 2015 Asian Cup
$7.5 million in 2011-12 to the FFA to ensure the continuing sustainability of football in the lead up to the 2015 Asian Cup.
Sydney Cricket Ground upgrade – contribution
$50 million in 2011-12 towards the upgrade of the SCG, to replace three stands.
Wayne Richards Park – contribution
$1.8 million in 2011-12 as a contribution towards the completion of the Wayne Richards Park sports complex in Port Macquarie, including the resurfacing of the Port Macquarie Hockey Field.
Source: Budget Paper No.2 for the 2012-13 financial year.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
Bondy I didn't watch it, but I read a transcript of the interview between the ABC and Anderson. I have to admit, the interview was kind of weird. Anderson insisted that the interviewer should have spoken to some expert, the interviewer insisted the expert wasn't allowed to speak to the ABC and then the interviewer asked Anderson not to mention the expert by name. Huh? What the hell was going on? In what way is it a game breaker?
Bondy
Did anyone watch Four Corners last night, Nop I didnt think so . That may very well be a game breaker .
The_Wookie
Roar Guru
The SA Government has budgeted $535 million which includes the Oval and an open plaza in front of it (think Federation Square here). The AFL contribution is about $5 million and will evidently pay for more toilets or something. There is a separate development on the opposite foreshore which is apparently going to be paid for by Skycity Casino. The Federal Governments component will pay for "a 300-space carpark under the eastern stand, a 75-space carpark under the indoor cricket centre and a Torrens Riverbank wetland". The Federal funding apparently enables the State funds earmarked for that to go towards a third replay screen.
The_Wookie
Roar Guru
Rugby League has been known to use the SCG, and Rugby Union tests are already being mooted for the new Adelaide Oval.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
I actually didn't add the full details from the Budget Paper, but I do recall that the Federal contribution covered a fair bit of stuff, including, from memory, car parking and the like. I occasionally truncated the description because, well, let's be honest - it was pretty boring at times!!
Titus
Guest
Couldn't you just consider government funding for private schools as Rugby funding? In which case they do very well.
c
Guest
so MIB I am a little confused. How much is going into "the Oval" and how much is going to "precinct redevelopment"??
Australian Rules
Guest
Agree with all that. Australian Football and Cricket have been bedfellows for 150+ years. If one gets funding, the other realises the benefit too.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
Chris I can't see that any of the money went to the AFL, but I agree with you that there is very little there for the two rugbies.
Norm
Guest
I am not sure how Chris calculates that "all the money" is spent on AFL. The 2 AFL grants ($13 mill) are for community projects, not the sport itself. Unlike Soccer, which gets $17.5 mill, incl $7.5 to ensure it's " sustainability"! Almost $100 mill goes to 3 cricket grounds, which are also used by the AFL.
ManInBlack
Guest
well - I guess cricket is the 'national game'?? or, AFL co-operation at those venues helps loosen purse strings? re the Adelaide Oval - people need to keep mindful of just how much is for the Oval/stands and how much is for the entire precinct redevelopment. This is a big 'renewal' project with a ~$600 million budget but $394 million of that is for the precinct including the convention centre/riverbank. The SA State Govt has a capped $535 million investment, the Feds $30 mill. The AFL has put some in too. So, on this one - it's unfair to put it all in the 'stadium upgrade' category.
Chris
Guest
I'm starting to see why the Gillard government is in so much trouble. All the marginal seats are in RL/RU states and yet she is spending all the money on AFL. She's totally given up on Queensland and New South Wales and is trying to sandbag the ultra-safe Labor seats in Vic/Tas/SA so that the Labor Party still exists (ie: has more than 10 out of 150 seats) after the election.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
By rights, as a bankrupt, there are meant to be limits on his ability to travel overseas. AOC being allowed to jump through some hoops there.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
I'm just having a bit of a laugh mate - you can rest assured that I would never, ever wish to denigrate hookey in any way, shape or form.
tourdecouch
Roar Guru
Is this cynical? If so, it's a great program that deserves more than belittling comparisons to hopscotch and hookey. http://www.streetsoccer.org.au/our-program/cssp/
BigAl
Guest
My main concern is how much Government Funding is going to getting Nick D'Arcy to the Olympics ? I understand that he can't afford to spend one zac of his own because sadly he's gone bankrupt !
Australian Rules
Guest
In terms of stadiums/grounds receiving funding...as usual it's the country's cricket grounds which attract the donations from the Fed Govt...Bellerive, Adelaide Oval, SCG.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
I like the sound of that, or at least sports are asked to make a contribution to whatever needs to be done.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
Thanks BennO - actually, it was interesting going through it! There are a few left field programs there, like street soccer, which made for fascinating reading.. I would like to see the program extended to include hop scotch, frisbee and hookey.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
KOGs it stands out that neither of the rugby codes are getting too much joy out of this budget (apart from some small investments in regional centres helping a range of sports). Furthermore, Tassie is getting a disproportionate amount of money and that tells me a handful of Tassie members and senators have the Government by the balls (which they do).