Howard Pledges Scrapped

The incoming Federal Labor Government has scrapped pre election pledges to sport and leisure by former Prime Minister John Howard.

In announcing spending cuts of $643 million over the next four years, Minister for Finance Lindsay Tanner has withdrawn funding for a substantial number of "irresponsible" new spending commitments made before the Federal election.

Funding reversals include $10 million over two years to the Australian Rugby Union for its Hall of Fame, tentatively proposed for the Sydney Football Stadium; $25 million for a National Rugby Academy in Brisbane and $3 million for a Fishing Hall of Fame in Hervey Bay.

In addition, budgets for the programs at the Australian Sports Commission and the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) are being slashed by about 4% across the board.

As a result, a number of AIS development programs are under immediate threat of being abandoned. By contrast, the Federal Government's $6.5 million commitment to the Bradman Cricket Museum appears to have survived along with a four-year $16 million government grant to Football Federation Australia.

Announcements on pre election promises from Labor, including a $9.6 million upgrade to the Cronulla Sharks National Rugby League home ground at Toyota Park and an $8 million upgrade of Campbelltown Sports Stadium, are awaited.