❓ Ms. Dalton asks about the Cook Labor government's expansion of KidSport and its impact on cost-of-living relief and promotion of physical activity/water safety. The Minister responds positively, outlining program expansions and benefits.
AnsweredQoN 720Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
COST-OF-LIVING RELIEF —
KIDSPORT
720. Ms L. DALTON to the Minister for Sport and Recreation:
I refer to the Cook Labor government's
commitment to supporting WA families facing cost-of-living pressures.
(1) Can the minister advise the house how this
government's expansion of KidSport will deliver cost-of-living relief to low-income households?
(2) Can the
minister outline to the house how this program continues to promote physical
activity and water safety for young Western Australians?
The DEPUTY SPEAKER : I call
the Minister for Sport and Recreation with a brief response.
KIDSPORT
720. Ms L. DALTON to the Minister for Sport and Recreation:
I refer to the Cook Labor government's
commitment to supporting WA families facing cost-of-living pressures.
(1) Can the minister advise the house how this
government's expansion of KidSport will deliver cost-of-living relief to low-income households?
(2) Can the
minister outline to the house how this program continues to promote physical
activity and water safety for young Western Australians?
The DEPUTY SPEAKER : I call
the Minister for Sport and Recreation with a brief response.
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) Yes,
I can. Thank you to the member for Geraldton. It was great to be in Geraldton
with her yesterday. I wish to say just how wonderful Geraldton is. It is a great
place; it is fantastic. There are so many great things happening, and that is
because the member has been the member there for over seven years, I think.
Congratulations.
Ms L. Dalton : No.
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : There is
so much happening.
Ms L. Dalton : Three and a half.
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : Only three and a half years—my
goodness gracious!
Ms R. Saffioti : Imagine what
she could have done in seven!
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : Exactly.
It was really great to be at the
aquatic centre in the member's electorate yesterday to formally
announce the further addition to the KidSport program. As members would be
aware, the Cook government increased the amount available to parents under the
KidSport program from $150 to $300, and now to $500. That means we have
provided more money to support school-aged children and young people and their
families receiving a healthcare card to access that program. We have seen a continuous
increase in the number of families accessing that program. It is a tremendous
cost-of-living measure, adding to the suite of cost-of-living measures
introduced by the government, including electricity subsidies, the school
assistance package and others.
We
have extended the KidSport regional pools program, which was initiated last
summer. It was a targeted program for some pilot regions. We are now
extending that to all regions in Western Australia, which means that more
families will be able to access that fund. Very simply, it allows families on
fixed and low incomes who qualify for KidSport to buy a season pass or a family
pass so they can access their local government pool for the whole of the
season. It is tremendous.
We
yesterday met one of the member's great local mums, Tara, and her three
children. Tara highlighted the difference this funding will make. As we
know, many regional areas experience a long and hot summer. The ability to
attend the local pool to cool off and have some fun during sometimes oppressive
temperatures and weather is very much welcomed. Tara said that this will make a
difference to her family and to those families in the midwest. It has now been extended to all regions in Western Australia.
It is another addition to the cost-of-living measures the government has introduced in focusing on trying to make sure
that we reduce pressures on families. This is a great cost-of-living measure. I thank the local governments—over 130 pools are eligible for
this—for their support and cooperation in delivering this program. When the summer comes, we will see many more
kids and their families being able to access pools. We know that will
have a huge impact on their health and wellbeing, and it means that they will
be doing some great active positive stuff at their local pool during the long
hot summer. I thank the member for advocating for this. Like many members in
this place, she continues —
Point of Order
Mr P.J. RUNDLE : Apart from a longwinded
response, the minister is not actually standing in his place.
Mr D.A. Templeman : I am not
in my lane. I will be in my lane, don't you worry about that!
The DEPUTY SPEAKER : I will
uphold that point of order!
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : This is a great
measure. I thank the member for Geraldton and other members who have continued
to highlight how, by tweaking and expanding the KidSport program, we can
deliver real differences to families going forward. It is very exciting. I am
sure that we will see some increased numbers, as we did in the pilot for this
program, going forward.
The DEPUTY SPEAKER : I give
the call to the Leader of the Opposition, with the last question.
I can. Thank you to the member for Geraldton. It was great to be in Geraldton
with her yesterday. I wish to say just how wonderful Geraldton is. It is a great
place; it is fantastic. There are so many great things happening, and that is
because the member has been the member there for over seven years, I think.
Congratulations.
Ms L. Dalton : No.
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : There is
so much happening.
Ms L. Dalton : Three and a half.
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : Only three and a half years—my
goodness gracious!
Ms R. Saffioti : Imagine what
she could have done in seven!
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : Exactly.
It was really great to be at the
aquatic centre in the member's electorate yesterday to formally
announce the further addition to the KidSport program. As members would be
aware, the Cook government increased the amount available to parents under the
KidSport program from $150 to $300, and now to $500. That means we have
provided more money to support school-aged children and young people and their
families receiving a healthcare card to access that program. We have seen a continuous
increase in the number of families accessing that program. It is a tremendous
cost-of-living measure, adding to the suite of cost-of-living measures
introduced by the government, including electricity subsidies, the school
assistance package and others.
We
have extended the KidSport regional pools program, which was initiated last
summer. It was a targeted program for some pilot regions. We are now
extending that to all regions in Western Australia, which means that more
families will be able to access that fund. Very simply, it allows families on
fixed and low incomes who qualify for KidSport to buy a season pass or a family
pass so they can access their local government pool for the whole of the
season. It is tremendous.
We
yesterday met one of the member's great local mums, Tara, and her three
children. Tara highlighted the difference this funding will make. As we
know, many regional areas experience a long and hot summer. The ability to
attend the local pool to cool off and have some fun during sometimes oppressive
temperatures and weather is very much welcomed. Tara said that this will make a
difference to her family and to those families in the midwest. It has now been extended to all regions in Western Australia.
It is another addition to the cost-of-living measures the government has introduced in focusing on trying to make sure
that we reduce pressures on families. This is a great cost-of-living measure. I thank the local governments—over 130 pools are eligible for
this—for their support and cooperation in delivering this program. When the summer comes, we will see many more
kids and their families being able to access pools. We know that will
have a huge impact on their health and wellbeing, and it means that they will
be doing some great active positive stuff at their local pool during the long
hot summer. I thank the member for advocating for this. Like many members in
this place, she continues —
Point of Order
Mr P.J. RUNDLE : Apart from a longwinded
response, the minister is not actually standing in his place.
Mr D.A. Templeman : I am not
in my lane. I will be in my lane, don't you worry about that!
The DEPUTY SPEAKER : I will
uphold that point of order!
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN : This is a great
measure. I thank the member for Geraldton and other members who have continued
to highlight how, by tweaking and expanding the KidSport program, we can
deliver real differences to families going forward. It is very exciting. I am
sure that we will see some increased numbers, as we did in the pilot for this
program, going forward.
The DEPUTY SPEAKER : I give
the call to the Leader of the Opposition, with the last question.
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