❓ Ms. Hanns asks about the Cook Labor government's investment in grassroots sport. The Minister responds by highlighting specific examples of funding for local sporting clubs and criticises the opposition's alternative proposals, particularly regarding the Commonwealth Games.
AnsweredQoN 47Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Sport and recreation—Community facilities
47. Ms Jodie Hanns to the Minister for Sport and Recreation:
I refer to the Cook Labor government's significant investment
into grassroots sport, including direct support of local sporting
organisations.
(1) Can the minister outline to the house how the
Cook Labor government is contributing to the thriving grassroots sport culture
of Western Australia and prioritising long-term social benefits to the
community?
(2) Can the minister advise the house whether she
is aware of any alternative proposals to deliver sporting infrastructure
projects?
47. Ms Jodie Hanns to the Minister for Sport and Recreation:
I refer to the Cook Labor government's significant investment
into grassroots sport, including direct support of local sporting
organisations.
(1) Can the minister outline to the house how the
Cook Labor government is contributing to the thriving grassroots sport culture
of Western Australia and prioritising long-term social benefits to the
community?
(2) Can the minister advise the house whether she
is aware of any alternative proposals to deliver sporting infrastructure
projects?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I thank the member for Collie–Preston
for that question. Of course, the member is very passionate, as are all members
on this side of Parliament, about grassroots football, whether it be the Eaton
Bombers getting $850,000—
Mr David Scaife: Boomers.
Ms Rita Saffioti: Boomers! I heard there is an Eaton
Bombers team commencing very soon, too. This side of government is always
creating new opportunities for new teams!
The Eaton Boomers
football club is getting $850,000 for lighting upgrades. In the electorate of
the member for Bicton, there are commitments to new women's change rooms, and,
of course, in the electorate of the member for Pilbara, there are more netball
courts. Across a whole community, across the state, it is about supporting
grassroots sports. As we know, there is a huge demand out there for new playing
surfaces, whether it be ovals, pitches, fields or hard courts. Across the
state, there is massive demand for lighting to make sure we can use our ovals, pitches
and fields more, and that means having better lighting. I was able to visit the
Leederville Oval upgrade just recently. That is now broadcast quality. Women are
now able to play and train, as well as men, at Leederville. There are the upgrades to Sam Kerr Football Centre, with two new pitches to
make sure that again it is all about supporting grassroots football. Over $300 million
is being invested in grassroots sport across the state. We all know that when
we are talking to our local clubs and associations, the demand is immense, and
we need to continue to support them. That is our priority—supporting
grassroots football.
We saw the Leader of
the Opposition come out with, again, his obsession for the Commonwealth Games—the
$2 billion obsession for the Commonwealth Games.
Mr Basil Zempilas: You're making that number
up, Treasurer.
Ms Rita Saffioti: It is $2 billion. He went out there
and he called for it, then he disappeared. That is the second time he has done
that. That $2 billion would not be invested in our local sports but in the
Leader of the Opposition's obsession. Now remember it was a Liberal Party that
committed to the "right priorities": We have already heard that its
priorities are a WA-based Coachella; it is a bigger Bell Tower in the middle of
the Swan River; it is a billion-dollar waterfront; and now, again, it is the
Commonwealth Games. Imagine what people would be saying if all those workers
who are building those homes—I mean, we are hitting record levels of
completions of approvals; we have seen the rental vacancy rate go up to 2.5%—were
building the athletes village right now. Imagine that! We would be criticised if
all those workers who are delivering tens of thousands of homes were out there
delivering the athletes village. We have got the right priorities. We are
talking about housing in our community, grassroots sport and working with our
local clubs. Our local clubs are the Boomers—
Mr Basil Zempilas: And the Bombers too!
Ms Rita Saffioti: And
the Bombers, who are coming into the competition. I cannot wait to welcome the Boomers
and the Bombers and all those clubs around the state as we work with them to
make sure we have the facilities to get our young people out there, to get our
community out there, and, of course, to make sure all those volunteers out
there have the right facilities to continue to support our local communities.
for that question. Of course, the member is very passionate, as are all members
on this side of Parliament, about grassroots football, whether it be the Eaton
Bombers getting $850,000—
Mr David Scaife: Boomers.
Ms Rita Saffioti: Boomers! I heard there is an Eaton
Bombers team commencing very soon, too. This side of government is always
creating new opportunities for new teams!
The Eaton Boomers
football club is getting $850,000 for lighting upgrades. In the electorate of
the member for Bicton, there are commitments to new women's change rooms, and,
of course, in the electorate of the member for Pilbara, there are more netball
courts. Across a whole community, across the state, it is about supporting
grassroots sports. As we know, there is a huge demand out there for new playing
surfaces, whether it be ovals, pitches, fields or hard courts. Across the
state, there is massive demand for lighting to make sure we can use our ovals, pitches
and fields more, and that means having better lighting. I was able to visit the
Leederville Oval upgrade just recently. That is now broadcast quality. Women are
now able to play and train, as well as men, at Leederville. There are the upgrades to Sam Kerr Football Centre, with two new pitches to
make sure that again it is all about supporting grassroots football. Over $300 million
is being invested in grassroots sport across the state. We all know that when
we are talking to our local clubs and associations, the demand is immense, and
we need to continue to support them. That is our priority—supporting
grassroots football.
We saw the Leader of
the Opposition come out with, again, his obsession for the Commonwealth Games—the
$2 billion obsession for the Commonwealth Games.
Mr Basil Zempilas: You're making that number
up, Treasurer.
Ms Rita Saffioti: It is $2 billion. He went out there
and he called for it, then he disappeared. That is the second time he has done
that. That $2 billion would not be invested in our local sports but in the
Leader of the Opposition's obsession. Now remember it was a Liberal Party that
committed to the "right priorities": We have already heard that its
priorities are a WA-based Coachella; it is a bigger Bell Tower in the middle of
the Swan River; it is a billion-dollar waterfront; and now, again, it is the
Commonwealth Games. Imagine what people would be saying if all those workers
who are building those homes—I mean, we are hitting record levels of
completions of approvals; we have seen the rental vacancy rate go up to 2.5%—were
building the athletes village right now. Imagine that! We would be criticised if
all those workers who are delivering tens of thousands of homes were out there
delivering the athletes village. We have got the right priorities. We are
talking about housing in our community, grassroots sport and working with our
local clubs. Our local clubs are the Boomers—
Mr Basil Zempilas: And the Bombers too!
Ms Rita Saffioti: And
the Bombers, who are coming into the competition. I cannot wait to welcome the Boomers
and the Bombers and all those clubs around the state as we work with them to
make sure we have the facilities to get our young people out there, to get our
community out there, and, of course, to make sure all those volunteers out
there have the right facilities to continue to support our local communities.
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