Page 1449 - Week 04 - Thursday, 26 March 2009
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the way forward—and I note there is not a community consensus on that issue, that there are mixed views—that would appear to be a way forward in terms of providing an all-year-round swimming facility for Woden and south Canberra.
However, there are a number of alternative options that have been brought forward, and I know there are a number of alternative operators who will happily step in should Mr Turco fail to meet his lease or the territory plan requirements. So there are other options available, but the legal trigger for that is a failure on Mr Turco’s part to meet his legal obligations under his lease and the territory plan. And, if and when that occurs, the government will act strongly in protecting the legal rights of the territory under the territory plan.
Mr Doszpot: But first you want to sacrifice the swim club.
MR BARR: At this point in time, though, the most useful thing that Mr Doszpot can do is support my call on Mr Turco to waive the rent and not pay the rent.
MR RATTENBURY (Molonglo) (4.08): I am very pleased to rise to speak in this important debate. I congratulate Mr Doszpot for bringing forward this MPI because I think it is a very important issue for all of the community and one of significant personal interest to me.
When I think about the role of sport in the community, I guess several things occur to me straightaway. Sport is about health and wellbeing. It is about the economy, because sport is an industry. It employs around 3,500 people in the ACT—at least that many. Also it is about fun. We do not talk about fun in here very often, but it is important to recognise that sport and recreation are actually fun.
ACTSPORT’s 2004 Impact of sport and physical recreation on the ACT report spoke heavily about the role that sport plays in social cohesion. The report particularly identified that sport could deliver an increased level of social cohesion in the community. It found that sport can divert young people from antisocial behaviour, including crime; that sport improves individuals’ mood and self-esteem; and that sport promotes positive social values and assists in the development of life skills.
I think these points are accurate and significant. They point to the significant payback that comes from investing in sport and recreation. That is why I think it is important that we debate these issues in the Assembly and that we have a good discussion about what role government and the Assembly should be playing in the provision of sports facilities.
It is important in this context that we recognise the need for a long-term plan. Many sports organisations are run by volunteers with limited resources, doing it in their own time, doing it out of their work hours in addition to their many other responsibilities in life. It is therefore my view that the role of government is to smooth the provision of infrastructure so that sports can focus on the delivery of sport rather than lobbying government or fighting amongst each other to get to the top of the list each time the budget comes around for their facilities.
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