Federal Budget recognises challenges facing tourism: sport spending static

The increase in funding for tourism in the 2011/12 Federal Budget shows that the government has recognised and acknowledged the challenges facing the tourism industry, according to peak national body, Tourism & Transport Forum (TTF).

Funding for Tourism Australia has risen from $122 million in 2010/11 to $136 million for 2011/12, with the increase replenishing funds brought forward for emergency campaigns to stimulate demand in key markets in the wake of the global financial crisis and Queensland flooding.

TTF Chief Executive John Lee said this is a great outcome under the circumstances, stating "the government has clearly taken the conditions facing Australia's tourism industry into account in determining an appropriate level of funding for Tourism Australia.

"Natural disasters in New Zealand and Japan, poor economic conditions in the US, UK and Europe, and the strong Australian dollar mean Australia's tourism industry is facing very challenging conditions.

"In addition, we are still fighting the perception that Queensland was completely underwater or had been blown away.

"Thankfully, the Government has acknowledged these issues and raised Tourism Australia funding, which will allow it to leverage the strong Australian dollar and increase its marketing activity in key source countries.

"The commitment of $38 million to stage the Asian Cup finals in 2015 will also help to cement Australia's reputation as a host of world class international events."

At the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) acting Chief Executive Professor Peter Fricker acknowledged limited additional resources for sport and recreation, stating that "we cannot forget that we are now only one year into a major sport reform package introduced by the Government last year which provided significant new funding into the sport sector.

"Through the ASC the Government is currently providing a total of $325 million over four years as ongoing baseline funding for sport which includes new funding of $195 million. Already the first wave of new High Performance and Participation funding is flowing directly to sports, while a larger number of

Australian athletes are benefiting from a significant increase in Direct Athlete Support. "

The Budget announcement included confirmation of the continuation of the Active After-school Communities (AASC) program in 2012.

This program continuation recognises the success of the program and the commitment and hard work of AASC staff, schools/outside school hours care services (OSHCS), community coaches and sporting organisations involved in the delivery of the program.

Professor Fricker added "the big winners in (sport) are Australian primary school children who will continue to benefit from this nationally resourced and coordinated approach to engaging children in sport and other structured physical activity. Since it was established through the ASC in 2005 the AASC program has grown to reach around 190,000 children every school semester, in over 3,270 different school and OSHCS communities across Australia. "

The Federal Government is baking its Multicultural Youth Sports Partnership Program to then tune of $900,000 over three years.

Under a new package, 'Building Australia's Future Workforce', the Government will invest more than half a billion dollars delivering 130,000 training places and $1.75 billion to help the states and territories reform vocational education and training. 

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