Barrie Elvish takes AUSactive's call for Federal budget to include tax deductibility for gym memberships to mainstream media

AUSactive’s call for the upcoming Federal budget to include tax deductibility for gym memberships for all taxpayers and fringe benefit tax exemption for employer provided gym memberships is getting significant traction in the mainstream media with 9News, the Seven Network, Netowork Ten, News Ltd publications including The Australian, the ABC and Yahoo News each reporting the initiative.

Interest in the campaign, first reported by Australasian Leisure Management on 14th February, has seen AUSactive Chief Executive Barrie Elvish deliver the call in more than 20 radio interviews and numerous TV interviews in the past week.

In his interviews, Elvish elaborates on strategic initiatives for inclusion in the Federal budget that closely align with, and support, the Australian Government's objectives of easing cost-of-living pressures and implementing the National Preventive Health Strategy to combat chronic diseases in Australia.

Presented by AUSactive to Federal Treasury officials in February, AUSactive’s submission calls on the Federal Government to:

1. Grant employers an exemption under the FBT legislation, to enable them to provide their staff with gym memberships without penalty

2. Allow Australians to claim an income tax deduction for bona fide active health participation and gym memberships

3. Partner with the body and grassroots organisations to develop and implement a national public health campaign to educate Australians about the vital role of physical activity in enhancing their physical and mental well-being.

The proposals for an exemption to FBT policy will allow all employers to provide their staff with gym memberships or active health participation without penalty. This will remove existing workplace discrimination and levels the playing field for all.

Commending Elvish for taking the peak body’s message to mainstream media, AUSactive board member, Mel Tempest took to social media to write “Barrie Elvish's message about gym memberships becoming a tax deduction is making waves.

“Whether you agree with his stance or not, we can all agree that Barrie draws enormous attention to the health and fitness industry, the benefits of gym memberships and the work AUSactive does daily to benefit all fitness business owners and our gym members.”

In industry presentations last year, Elvish called on Australia's governments to "move from reactive health approaches to a creative preventative health philosophy" in order to improve physical activity levels across the nation and reduce growing expenditure on Medicare.

Delivering the opening address in the Business of Fitness Summit at the 2023 AUSFitness Industry Trade Show, Elvish suggested - that with Medicare and the Australian health system seen as being is in its worst condition since it was established 40 years ago - what the government needs to do to maximise any policy change impact.

Click here to read AUSactive’s full budget submission.

Image: Barrie Elvish addresses the Business of Fitness Summit at the 2023 AUSFitness Industry Trade Show.