New ASC Chiefs Put High Performance Sports Funding on hold

In line with caretaker guidelines during an election period, the Board of the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) has postponed high performance funding allocations to national sporting bodies in order to allow the incoming Government the appropriate opportunity to consider the ASCâs recommendations.

In a statement, the ASC explained that it expects "that the incoming Government will be briefed on sport funding recommendations and the decisions announced as soon as possible following the election."

The ASC Board also advised that it âhas commenced discussions on the new high performance funding allocations and has acknowledged the quality of bid proposals submitted by national sporting bodies."

The decision does not affect sporting organisationâs base funding allocations to ensure there is no impact on their ability to deliver and will allow the additional high performance funding allocations to be processed at the same time as the new funding allocations for participation funding.

Federal Minister for Sport Kate Ellis has also recently announced new appointments to the ASC appointing Warwick Smith as its new Chair.

The former Howard Government Minister for Sport replaces David Gallop who has been the ASC's Acting Chair.

Minister Ellis also made two new ASC Board appointments immediately before the Federal election was called: Ann Sherry and Michael Turtur.

Ann Sherry has extensive experience in the corporate sector and in 2004 was awarded an Order of Australia for her contribution to the Australian community through the promotion of corporate management policies and practices that embrace gender equity, social justice and work and family partnerships.

Sherry was First Assistant Secretary of the Office of the Status of Women in Canberra from 1992-1994, advising the Prime Minister on policies and programs to improve the status of women in Australia. Ms Sherry was also Australiaâs representative to the United Nations forums on human rights and women's rights and is currently Chief Executive Officer of the global cruise company Carnival Australia.

Michael Turtur is a well known sporting figure in the Australian community; a Olympic gold medallist in the 4,000 metre Team Pursuit at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles.

Turtur is currently the race director of the highly successful Tour Down Under. He is also the current President of the Oceania Cycling Confederation and represents Oceania on the Management Committee of the International Cycling Union. 

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