Page 1165 - Week 07 - Tuesday, 22 August 1989
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forward and do not become blinkered by one-off projects in the hope that the building industry will be improved. It is more than one or two major projects; it is long-term development; and it is a long-term plan for the development of the ACT that is important in this particular issue. I trust that the Chief Minister and her Government will be looking very strongly towards that area to ensure that happens, and will not concentrate on single-issue developments in this particular area.
MR WHALAN (Minister for Industry, Employment and Education) (4.29): Yesterday, I was invited to represent the Government at the launch of the national plan for sport and recreation by the Federal Minister for Sport, Senator Graham Richardson. At this launch the Minister unveiled a financial package of $230m for sport and recreation. This represents an increase of more than $100m on previous allocations and involves the most significant boost to Australian sport ever provided by any Government.
The main purpose of this increased expenditure is to encourage participation and excellence in sport. This announcement recognises the Federal Government's continuing commitment, not only to the elite and Olympic champions of the future, but also to all levels of sport in the community. The announcement also comes at a time when the ACT is looking for further opportunities for economic growth, particularly in local industries.
Sport, recreation and racing are having a major impact on the ACT economy. At a national level, sport and recreation account for approximately 20 per cent of total private consumption and approximately 10 per cent of gross domestic product. The ACT will benefit from this extra allocation by the direct allocation of moneys to expand the Aussie Sports program and the establishment of what is described as a youth support scheme. Both of these programs in the ACT and the surrounding region will be expanded.
The primary aim of the scheme is to promote ongoing participation in all sporting pursuits by post-primary age students. This will overcome what has become nationally a noticeable decline in sports participation by teenagers. This trend has been, regrettably, most notable in the young women of our community. To ensure that the young sports people of Canberra are able to obtain immediate benefits from these moneys, I have already established a working party of agencies within the Government to examine the most effective means of distribution of these funds to targeted youth areas.
This working party comprises the Government Sports Advisory Committee, the Department of Education, the Office of Sport, Recreation and Racing, and the Children's Day Care Service. I can assure the Assembly that the Government will not be tardy in implementing this initiative. In particular, I will ensure that the funds will be devoted to program areas and not eaten up by unnecessary administrative expenses.
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