NSW Labor Responds to Playing Catch Up Report
Published Wed 01 Feb 2023
NSW Labor today announced a commitment that if they win the election, they will increase Organisation Support Funding for State Sporting Organisations.
In November 2022, Sport NSW released the ‘Playing Catch Up Report’ requesting an increase from the current level of funding, a level that has not changed since the Sydney Olympics in 2000.
NSW Labor has agreed, if elected, to step up funding from $2.55m to $5m in 2023/24 and $10m per year in the years after as a part of multi-year agreements. This is a tremendous outcome for SSOs!
Sport NSW Chairperson Chris Hall acknowledged Labors response to the report.
“Sport NSW welcomes today’s announcement that NSW Labor have committed to increasing the Organisational Support Payment for sports,” Mr Hall said.
“These payments have been frozen in time since the year 2000 which has meant inflation has eaten away at these grants by over 67 per cent.”
Labor Leader Chris Minns recognised the challenges facing community sport in the state.
“Sports organisations and clubs are often held together by the passion of volunteers, parents and families and it’s time that we had modern funding arrangements to match the modern challenges faced by these groups,” Mr Minns said.
“This funding will help improve programs and increase female participation and leadership pathways right across sport in NSW.”
Sport NSW will continue to advocate to all sides of politics to support an increase in funding alongside other key recommendations from our Playing Catch Up Report including commitments to:
· Continue the Active Kids Voucher program and expand it to include adults and pre-schoolers.
· Ongoing grant programs that will ensure significant investment continues into regional and metropolitan community sport facilities.
In the Lead up to the state election Sport NSW recently announced that the Minister for Sport, The Hon. Alister Henskens MP and Shadow Minister for Sport, Ms Julia Finn MP will be addressing the sector at the 2023 Sports Foyer NSW Sports Industry Conference taking place on 24 February 2023.
Tickets are on sale now - https://www.sportnsw.com.au/events/173379/
