New Federal Minister for Sport Anika Wells to address National Sports Convention

Newly appointed Federal Minister for Sport Anika Wells will make her first address in her role at next week’s National Sports and Physical Activity Convention in Melbourne.

Appointed to position of Sports Minister, as well as Federal Minister for Aged Care, by new Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the end of May, Minister Wells has made no announcements and issued no press releases in relation to the sport portfolio in her five weeks in the position with her sole comment being in relation to the participation of trans women in female sport.

Guardian Australia last week quoted Minister Wells as saying the Federal Government has no plans to introduce legislative change on the issue, adding that a proposed bill by Liberal Senator Claire Chandler is an “alienating bill (that) can go right to the back of the shelf to gather dust”.

While reforming aged care, along with commitments to funding for Medicare, was part of the Labour manifesto leading into the May Federal election, no mentions of support for physical activity and sport were made which raises the question of where Federal policies in this area may be heading.

In addition, in opposition last year and again in the early weeks of Government, Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers has said he would be using New Zealand’s ‘wellbeing budget’ model for his own first budget in October. What is not certain is whether physical activity and sport will be considered part of this.

While the Federal Department of Health, where the sport portfolio sits, has a major focus on Coronavirus response and aged care, the Minister of Sport’s portfolio was damaged by the sports rorts affair and the appointment of Coalition leaning board members to the Australian Sports Commission.

It is to be hoped that Minister Wells’ address will restore industry confidence in the portfolio.

Minister Wells’ address to the National Sports and Physical Activity Convention (NSC) is a late addition to the event program and will be made prior to proceedings commencing on the morning of Wednesday 13th July.

The NSC is being held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) from 11th to 13th July.

Australasian Leisure Management has addressed a series of questions to Minister Wells. To date, receipt of these questions has not been acknowledged by her office.

Click here to view the questions.

Click here for more information on the National Sports and Physical Activity Convention via the Australasian Leisure Management industry Calendar.