Page 1097 - Week 04 - Thursday, 22 April 2021
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(2) calls on the ACT Government to:
(a) as per the Parliamentary and Governing Agreement, explore options to recognise a sport and recreation industry peak body, to support the sector to respond to the challenges of COVID-19 and beyond. This body would liaise with government agencies on matters relevant to members including:
(i) planning and land use;
(ii) strategic needs-based funding;
(iii) major sporting events;
(iv) mass participation community sporting events; and
(v) the role of community sport during the COVID-19 recovery phase;
(b) work collaboratively with this sport and recreation industry peak body, and all other sport and recreation groups in the ACT to develop a new long-term strategic plan for sport and recreation in the ACT;
(c) develop a comprehensive facilities management plan for the ACT’s indoor and outdoor sporting facilities to ensure that maintenance of existing facilities and establishment of new facilities meets community need;
(d) act on the priority of addressing climate change impacts on ACT Government owned indoor and outdoor sporting facilities with particular efforts made to ensure heat-managed and smoke-free environments;
(e) examine barriers of participation for Canberrans from low-income households, and report on existing mechanisms and possible steps to combat these barriers; and
(f) report back to the Assembly no later than December 2021.
Mr Deputy Speaker, say what you mean, and mean what you say. In the ACT election campaign, the Greens took a comprehensive suite of policies to the electorate to support community sport, and I am very proud to stand here today sponsoring the second motion in my name that makes good on those promises.
During the election we made a commitment to the volunteers, the coaches, the players and the half-time orange cutters. We promised that we would provide clarity, certainty and stability to the sporting community by establishing a sports and recreation peak body and creating a long-term facilities management plan.
ACT community sport and recreation organisations do so much for our community. They are fundamental to our community’s physical and mental health. Sport is a beloved weekend activity for young kids, a great way of blowing off steam for us adults, and an overall great excuse to get out and about.
When COVID-19 hit, sports and rec showed up for Canberrans, keeping us active and engaged to combat feelings of stress and isolation. It is time for us to show up for them and deliver a comprehensive, big-picture plan for the ACT community and support them to have their voice to government.
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