Labor commits to ALFA's call to recognise the value of community recreation and leisure facilities

In the lead up to the Federal election on Saturday 7th September, the Australian Labor Party has confirmed its recognition in the value of community recreation and leisure facilities and acknowledged "the enormous preventative health and positive social cohesion impacts that good quality facilities in our communities provide."

Responding to an election policy platform developed by the Australian Leisure Facilities Association Inc. (ALFA) for community aquatic and recreation facilities, in ALFA sought a commitments from all political parties, the Labor Party confirmed its support for the future development and important role community leisure facilities play.

A statement to ALFA from Labor's national campaign headquarters read:

Rudd Labor strongly believes in the value of community recreation and leisure facilities and understands the enormous preventative health and positive social cohesion impacts that good quality facilities in our communities provide. That's why since coming to Government Federal Labor has made unprecedented investments in community infrastructure across Australia to ensure we continue to support facilities that support active, healthy and socially inclusive communities.

1. Acknowledgement of the contribution and value of community recreation and leisure facilities as an investment in the health, well-being and social capital of the Australian community.

2. Acknowledgement of that community recreation and leisure facilities deliver a diverse range of benefits, including:

• Reduced primary and allied health care costs

• A healthier workforce

• Improved community mental and physical health

• A happier and socially connected community

• A more educated community

• Creation of jobs

• A reduction in crime

Federal Labor created the Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program – the largest ever federal investment in local facilities such as parks, swimming pools, sporting fields, community halls and child care centres. Already this $1.1 billion program has funded 6,000 small and larger-scale projects.

We're also providing more than $200 million in Community Infrastructure Grants to build priority local projects such as upgrades to local sporting and recreational community infrastructure to enhance the liveability of our regions and invest in the health, fitness and wellbeing of communities.

Since coming to Government, Federal Labor has invested in expanding the nation's cycling iinfrastructure, including our historic investment of $40 million as part of the national economic stimulus plan. This funding supported over 170 cycle infrastructure projects across Australia – more than all other Federal Government combined since Federation.

It was also Federal Labor that established the first National Sport and Active Recreation Policy Framework – because we know that Australians place a high value on sport and active recreation.

Federal Labor also developed the No leave, no life campaign to encourage workers to use some of their leave to take a domestic holiday, and invested $51.6 million to support and grow more than 260 domestic tourism projects.

In addition we are investing in Renew Australia, which enables suburbs and towns to breathe new life into empty shops and office space. By offering temporary lease to community organisations and arts and creative businesses, Renew Australia has been shown to reduce vandalism and graffiti and rejuvenate otherwise empty areas of town.

3. A commitment to funding the following:

• Consolidation and extension of research to identify the optimal community outcomes and emerging opportunities for community recreation and leisure facilities provision

• Further community recreation and leisure facility infrastructure improvements and development using coordinated resources and planning across all levels of Government

• Delivery of programs and support services targeted at specific population group. The Rudd Labor Government is committed to working to improve research and statistical information available on the sport and active recreation industry. A re-elected Rudd Labor Government would be happy to discuss this further with Australian Leisure Facilities Association.

4. Identifying the responsibilities of each level of Government in the development and funding of leisure facilities to maximise the equitable, effective and efficient use of resources.

5. Consulting, collaborating and/or partnering with the Australian Leisure Facilities Association Inc on the strategic development of community recreation and leisure facilities.

Under Federal Labor in 2011, The National Sport and Active Recreation Policy Framework was created with feedback provided by a range of national sporting organisations, active recreation organisations and peak bodies. For the first time this enables a coordinated and nationally consistent, whole-of-sport approach to sport and recreation from Commonwealth and State and Territory Governments. The Framework is designed to benefit both sport and active recreation, from grassroots through to the elite level, and to assist in the development of policies, strategies and programs to deliver benefits to all Australians through sport and active recreation.

A re-elected Rudd Labor Government would be happy to discuss the Framework including the strategic development of community recreation and leisure facilities into the future with the Australian Leisure Facilities Association.

Welcoming this response, an ALFA spokesperson added "although there was no formal acknowledgement of the contribution and value of community recreation and leisure facilities as an investment in the health, well-being and social capital of the Australian community, there appears to be a commitment via the National Sport and Active Recreation Policy that Federal Labor established to coordinate a nationally consistent, whole-of-sport approach to sport and recreation from Commonwealth and State and Territory Governments.

"The Framework is designed to benefit both sport and active recreation, from grassroots through to the elite level, and to assist in the development of policies, strategies and programs to deliver benefits to all Australians through sport and active recreation.

"The response also made reference to the Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program that was established by Federal Labor which has funded 6,000 small and larger-scale projects.

"In response to the research that ALFA is undertaking, there was a commitment for a re-elected Rudd Labor Government to discuss this further with ALFA, as it is committed to working to improve research and statistical information available on the sport and active recreation industry."

The spokesperson also welcomed the Labor commitment that a re-elected Rudd Labor Government would discuss the Framework including the strategic development of community recreation and leisure facilities into the future with ALFA.

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