ACT Liberals seek to make Canberra the amateur sporting capital of Australia

Making Canberra the ‘Amateur Sporting Capital of Australia’ is a focus of the Canberra Liberals’ strategic direction for the future of sport and recreation in the ACT.

ACT Shadow Minister for Sport and Recreation James Milligan recently launched Find Your Game, the Canberra Liberals’ 10-year strategic plan to boost grassroots sporting opportunities and participation.

Advising that with more than 30 initiatives, Find Your Game unlocks Canberra’s tourism, entertainment, health, education and technological sectors to enhance community-wide sports participation, Milligan stated “we want all Canberrans, regardless of their age, sex, physical ability or background to have fair access to sporting opportunities.

“Despite the huge social, health and wellbeing benefits of sport and recreation, there are number of barriers that make it difficult for many Canberrans to participate. These include prohibitive expenses, poorly maintained assets, a lack of facilities, and a lack of direction from the Barr Government to create more opportunities for increasing participation among women and girls, youth, seniors and people living with a disability.”

Milligan is also critical of the current ACT Government’s “restriction of Canberra’s natural assets, such as our mountain ranges and waterways, prohibits entire industries of sport and recreation”, adding “by removing these barriers, we will ensure more Canberrans can enjoy a sport or recreation suitable to their interests and life circumstances.

“Nurturing and investing in our homegrown talent will inevitably lead to a more competitive base for elite sport in the ACT, enabling us to expand national and international sporting opportunities.

“I am excited about the future of sport and recreation in the ACT and, after 12 months of extensive consultation with Canberra’s sporting communities, I am confident that we can make Canberra the amateur sporting capital of Australia.”

The ACT Liberals are inviting input on the plan from sport and recreation stakeholders.

For more information go to www.findyourgame.com.au/

Images: Roller derby in Canberra (top) and James Milligan (below).