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The federal election campaign has started and we are all counting down the days till September 7.
Over the next few weeks I will aim to give the election a slightly different focus and take you through the relationship between sport and politics.
Each year the federal budget allocates over $300 million to sport across high performance, participation and anti-doping funding.
In addition, since the last election, more than $380 million has been allocated through major infrastructure projects and the hosting and bidding for major events.
You can bet your house that both sides will making many more announcements over the coming weeks and to make sure you know who the people are behind these decisions the first piece will be focused on those in Canberra who have the influence to determine the direction of sport.
Labor Senator the Hon Don Farrell – Current Minister for Sport
Farrell was promoted to Federal Minister for Sport (taking over from Kate Lundy) at the start of July, adding to his role as Minister Assisting for Tourism.
Elected as a Labor Senator for South Australia in 2007 Farrell is a well known Adelaide Crows supporter and a keen tennis player who has been rumoured to take it to resident political tennis pro John Alexander MP on the Parliament House courts.
Farrell has made his immediate priorities clear: deliver on a timely conclusion of the ASADA investigation, and on community sporting clubs wants and needs. This is addition to the continued implementation by the Australian Sports Commission of Australia’s Winning Edge strategy and a range of programs to support participation in sport.
Coalition MP Luke Hartsuyker – Current Shadow Minister for Sport
Hartsuyker is a member of the National Party and representative for the seat of Cowper, covering Coffs Harbour and surrounding areas. Elected to the House in 2001 Hartsuyker has been Shadow Minister for Sport since 2010 along with Shadow Minister for Regional Communications and Youth.
Given his electorate’s coastal location, it’s not surprising that Hartsuyker is a keen surfer and sailor. When not out on the water Hartsuyker is a Ducati tragic and supports the Roosters in the NRL and the Hawks in the AFL.
Over his three years as shadow Harsuyker has positioned himself to be an alternative voice for sport in Canberra and aims to support improved results by Australia’s elite athletes, and to increase community sport participation rates by using federal funding for sport more efficiently.
Greens Senator Richard Di Natale – Greens Spokesperson for Sport
Elected as a Greens Senator for Victoria in 2010 Di Natale has been the spokesperson for sport as well as health, gambling and multitude of other portfolios.
A trained doctor, Di Natale is also a former ruck-rover for Coburg and Oakleigh in the VFL and while no longer on the field has embraced surfing, swimming and cycling and supporting his beloved Tigers.
While it is unlikely that Di Natale will ever hold the ministry his voice is one that cannot be ignored in the general debate. Over the past three years he has had a strong focus on the integrity of sport particularly around issues such as sports science in the major codes, and the level of gambling and alcohol sponsorship in sport.
Already within the first few days of the election campaign, each of these players have made announcements on sports policies and while I know politics doesn’t float everyone’s boat, it’s undoubtedly one of the more tumultuous times in sport. These three men will have a big say on where our sports are heading in the future.
Sean Sammon is a former advisor to the Federal Government on all things sport and has been blamed by his mates for every single Australian sporting loss over the past 18 months. While enjoying an early retirement Sean is working on his golf handicap and rediscovering the beauty of retro footy between reading the papers and websites (front and back/top and bottom) to see how the world of sport is affected by the powers that be.
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