Federal Budget includes new spending on sport and tourism

Reflecting the restarting of Australia's economy after the COVID pandemic, the Budget handed down last night by Federal Treasurer Josh Freydenburg includes the halving of the tax paid on fuel and a one-off cost of living payment.

Beyond those headline measures and a series of spending announcements oriented towards the upcoming Federal election, Treasurer Freydenburg's Budget was presented against a backdrop of unemployment being at a 50-year low, and forecasts of higher wages growth.

For the leisure industry's sectors, the 2022/23 Budget included the previously announced $60 million over two years to accelerate international tourist arrivals while adding $6.8 million for the implementation of the Federal Government’s THRIVE 2030 long-term strategy for tourism recovery, including $2 million for a visitor economy online employment and skills platform and $4.8 million for Tourism Research Australia.

$75.5 million in targeted support for travel agents and tour arrangement service providers was also announced through the Consumer Travel Support Program.

For sport, a $155 million package was announced that includes more than $117 million to Sport Australia and the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) to extend the Sporting Schools program, fund projects to promote and create leadership opportunities for women and girls and expand community participation programs to help get Australians more active.

$79.6 million was allocated for the Sporting Schools program to continue for two years, $10.3 million in new funding to support women in sport, $10.3 million extension to Sport Australia’s participation programs and $10.6 million to further boost Paralympic support in the build-up to Paris 2024.

While announcing record spending on health, the Budget included no measures to improve physical activity beyond those in the remit of the Australian Sports Commission.

However, the biggest funding disappointment comes for the arts, with spending set to be reduced from $990 million in 2021/22 to $799 million in 2022/23 while arts and cultural development funding will be reduced from $159 million to just $20.3 million.

Forward estimates also indicate a big reduction in funding for regional arts funding for Screen Australia will also fall.