Sport and Physical Recreation  -  Policy D14

1.      sport and physical recreation are essential elements of the culture of many Australians.

2.      sport and/or physical recreation are necessary for the maintenance of good mental and physical health.

3.      participation in sport plays an important role in the development of social, organisational and communication skills.

4.      community-based sporting clubs and associations are an integral part of our society.

5.      government has a responsibility to ensure equitable access to affordable sport and physical recreation facilities and services.

6.      government must ensure public access via television and other media to sporting events of national significance.

7.      the staging of sporting events and the building of sporting facilities must minimise ecological impacts.

8.      non-competitive sports and physical exercise are important for the wellbeing of all Australians. 

9.   all schools to be funded and required to provide opportunities for appropriate sport and physical recreation for all school children up to and including year 12.

10. sporting events of national significance to be available on free to air television or other free media.

11. promotion of women’s sport, including where appropriate support for the professionalisation of women’s competitions.

12. a drug free sporting environment.

13. improved access to sport and physical recreation facilities for people with disabilities, and older Australians.

14. the promotion of sport and physical recreation as a key element of health policies.

15. allocate funding in the health, welfare and social services areas to promote participation in sport or other physical recreation.

16. work with the Australian Sports Drug Agency to promote a drug free sporting environment.

17. support local government to continue to provide accessible well resourced and safe sporting and physical recreation facilities to the community.

18. use anti-siphoning legislation to ensure that all sporting events of national significance are available on free to air television or other free media.

19. ensure that anti-discrimination legislation and federal government funding deliver real accessibility to sport and physical recreation facilities and services for people with disabilities.

20. establish an office for women’s sport within the Department of Communication, Information Technology and the Arts, to promote and support the development of women’s sport.

21. facilitate the televising of top level women’s sport.

22. work with stakeholders to ensure ticket prices at sporting events do not unfairly discriminate against people from low socio economic backgrounds.

23. reduce deaths by drowning of Australian children by guaranteeing access to swimming lessons for all children under 3 years of age.

24. promote and resource sport and physical recreation activities within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

25. support the adoption of codes of practice in sport which discourage acts of violent or antisocial behaviour, particularly directed against women.

26. prioritise funding for community facilities that encourage active participation in physical activities.