O'Farrell cuts put the boot to sport clubs.   

    Katherine Danks
    The Daily Telegraph
    July 10, 2012


O'Farrell's cuts will see funding to local government sporting facilities halved.

LOCAL sports clubs will be deprived of money to upgrade netball courts, skate parks and cricket pitches as part of the state's budget cuts, Treasury documents reveal.   

A confidential report obtained by The Daily Telegraph reveals funding for local government sporting facilities will be almost halved to $2.5 million this financial year.

It means there will be less money for not-for-profit clubs and local councils to install floodlights, build new canteens and resurface courts.

Parramatta Auburn Netball Association president Kim Higgins said sport clubs rely on government assistance to maintain and improve courts.

It was recently awarded two grants to resurface netball courts and provide a shaded area for spectators and players.

"Without government assistance we would need to increase our playing and registration fees, and this is something that we are really reluctant to do especially in today's economic climate," Ms Higgins said.   

"At PANA we pride ourselves on providing a sporting activity at a reasonable price."

Sport and Recreation Minister Graham Annesley said the $4.3 million in funding last year was inflated because of rolled over funds and outstanding commitments from previous year's programs.

"The total grant funding in 2012-13 is the same as it was in 2011-12," he said.

However, Opposition Leader John Robertson said it was clearly a 41 per cent cut in funding.   

"The O'Farrell government has cut funding for sporting organisations from $4.3 million last year to $2.5 million in this budget - depriving sporting groups of the money they need to upgrade their grounds, purchase equipment and keep kids sports programs operating," Mr Robertson said.   

"These cuts are mean-spirited and will leave football clubs, netball associations and other local sporting groups without the funding they need to stay afloat."

Tennis Wollongong president David Stratton said small clubs were run by volunteers and would struggle to meet any increase in costs.

Tennis clubs rely on government money to help pay the $20,000 needed to resurface synthetic grass tennis courts.

"You're not going to attract anybody to the court, particularly coaches and juniors, unless there is the correct infrastructure," Mr Stratton said.

Bankstown Mayor Khal Asfour said the council was recently refused a government grant to develop Roberts Park in Greenacre by building pathways, a playground and seating.

The council has received almost $450,000 in government grants since 2006-07.

"The NSW government shouldn't be looking at finding savings by taking money away from helping our kids," he said.   

philperth2010 wrote on Jul 10^th, 2012 at 7:49am:




oh you will be saying next all car rego goes into roads.......

where have you been all these years???.


I can see why all this funding is being cut.. it isnt just sport..its everywhere take a good hard look..

but someone has to pay for all these asylum seekers. dont think the pollies are going to go without their pay increases for the sake of asylum seekers do you?

philperth2010 wrote on Jul 10^th, 2012 at 7:49am:






Date April 15, 2012




A Monash University study has found charitable contributions are ''minuscule'' compared with profits made by clubs and an ''extremely inefficient and high cost method of funding community sporting activities''. It also reveals that the electorates where gamblers lost the most money on pokies were all Labor seats.

''It is difficult to avoid the conclusion that poker machine community benefit claims are principally intended as a device to legitimate poker machine operations,'' the study, led by Professor Charles Livingstone, said.

''There is no doubt that poker machines cause considerable harm. Claims of community benefits are arguably a smokescreen to both enlist the support of those who benefit from them - local sporting clubs and charities, for example - and deflect attention from the harm caused by poker machines.''

In NSW, pokie users lost almost $5 billion in 2010-11 or $1003 per adult. The clubs gave $63.5 million to community organisations and charities or of poker machines losses.

In Victoria, gamblers lost $2.6 billion or $701 per adult. The clubs gave $62.8 million to community and charitable groups or

2.4 per cent

of losses.

''Since poker machine losses are very large … the amounts expended on community benefit purposes appear to be large themselves. But as a proportion of losses such claims are minimal,'' the research found.


http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/pokies-give-peanuts-to-charity-2012...

Swagman wrote on Jul 10^th, 2012 at 9:38am:

State debt blows out 40 per cent as borrowing spree comes under fire

January 16, 2012




http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/state-politics/state-debt-blows...i


Date February 17, 2012.

THE Baillieu government has been told to slash spending further and rein in state debt or risk losing Victoria's coveted top credit rating.

In a hairy-chested review of the state's finances, Moody's has confirmed Victoria's AAA rating, but has also demanded further austerity to offset lost revenue from a sluggish property market, lower GST receipts and the end of Commonwealth stimulus payments.



http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/slash-spending-or-lose-aaa-rating-baillieu-war...

Guildford wrote on Jul 10^th, 2012 at 11:38am:


You arent paying any more or less for it anyway.

Quote:


Hahahaaahahahahahahahaahahaha

Why the heck was that even in the article? To take a lil swipe @ labour - bias much? Hahahahahahaha. As if voting labour has anything to do with gambling on the pokies.

SOB

Verge wrote on Jul 10^th, 2012 at 10:05am:


to be fair to IMFULLOFIT, I doubt he is capable of understanding your explanation. Hes not the brightest bulb on the tree.

longweekend58 wrote on Jul 10^th, 2012 at 2:03pm:


I'd wager that there are those of the Left who disagree. Pun intended...