Federal Budget backs sport but avoids focus on wellness and wellbeing

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has announced new investments in sport as part of the new Federal Government’s first budget.

Within overall spending of $633.5 million on sport, a rise of more than 5% on last year, there will be a $155 million investment towards the Sport 2030 national plan.

However, the notion of Treasurer Chalmers delivering a wellbeing budget, something he had flagged during the last Federal election, did not transpire.

Instead, increases with see overall spending of $104 billion on health and $30.6 billion on aged care while mental health expenditure has been frozen and funding uncertainty remains for the future of Medicare-subsidised psychology sessions.

The budget also made no mention of any backing for physical activity campaigns.

Australia’s ‘Green and Gold Decade’
Instead, confirming previously announced commitments to fund Australia’s ‘Green and Gold Decade’ of sport, Treasurer Chalmers $89.7 million to events including the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup - which will receive $44.8 million - along with $15 million for upgrades at Canberra's AIS Arena which should be completed as of the middle of 2024.

The Federal Government has committed to assist the Rugby World Cup 2027 and Women’s Rugby World Cup 2029 while also backing top-flight road cycling, basketball, football, cricket and netball events to be hosted here in the coming decade as well as support the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Victoria. 

Included in the budget is $10.7 million allocated to maximise social, economic and sporting outcomes from major events and leveraging “significant legacy initiatives”.

The legacy measures include $4.4 million for the ICC T20 Men’s World Cup 2022, $3.1 million for the FIFA Women’s Football World Cup 2023, and $2.6 million for the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2022. The World Transplant Games 2023 will receive $400,000.

Funding support worth $10.6 million has been allocated for Paralympics Australia to prepare and support the Australian team at the Paris 2024 Games.

The budget also commits to expanding the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) Sporting Schools program for an additional two calendar years, allocating $79.6 million to support children, young people, and their parents to reconnect with sport in a safe and healthy way.

The ASC will also receive funding of $10.3 million for programs that target “populations currently physically inactive or individuals who have ‘dropped out’ of sport”.

It has committed $3.4 million to continue the AusPlay survey which tracks the sport and physical activity behaviours of all Australians, and $2.8 million for the ongoing development of the National Sport Injury Database.

The budget also sees $27.2 million directed annually towards sports ethics including $19.7 million allocated to Sport Integrity Australia which will continue ensuring sport is both safe and fair. The focus will be on the National Integrity Framework, anti-doping measures, match-fixing regulations and educating sporting participants. A further $7.5 million will go to the Australian Sports Drug Testing Laboratory to conduct expert analysis of samples collected through Australia’s anti-doping authority.

Female leadership in sport
Another measure that has already been announced will see $10.3 million committed to promote and create leadership and long-term senior career pathways for women and girls in sport.

A key target of the allocation is to increase gender diversity in all roles across the sports sector workforce, with particular focus on coaches, officials and administrators.

Over the next four years, the Community Sport Leaders program will receive $4.1 million to implement women’s leadership programs in the community. 

Aiming to support women taking on leadership roles as well as developing and promoting free online education through the Australian Sport Learning Centre, the programs aim to transform community sport environments “to meet the needs and reap the rewards of diverse participation”.

Other Measures
The budget also scrapped the $250 million regional grants program called the ‘Building Better Regions Fund’.

Click here to view the Funding Australia’s green and gold decade document.

Images: Matildas star Ellie Carpenter (above) and the AIS Arena (below).