Mr Marshall questions government assistance to East Perth and Subiaco football clubs, alleging unfairness. Mr Carpenter defends the government's approach, highlighting benefits of rationalisation and support from the AFL.

AnsweredQoN 541Legislative Assembly
Asked
12 November 2001
Portfolio
Sport and Recreation

QuestionView source ↗

FOOTBALL CLUBS, GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE
Is the Minister aware that all the other football clubs who never receive handouts from the Government are very upset at the money centred on East Perth and Subiaco in this instance? Mr CARPENTER

AnswerView source ↗

The member should have given me some notice of the question and I would have been able to provide a breakdown of the financial assistance that the football sector in general receives from the Western Australian community via the State Government. In Western Australia millions of dollars are spent on football, and all the clubs benefit from the great generosity of the people of this State. I have not heard one representative from any other football club in Western Australia raise an objection to the prospect of Subiaco and East Perth being collocated at Leederville Oval on a permanent basis. Every person I have spoken to about this matter has said it is a very sensible idea. The rationalisation of facilities, and therefore the rationalisation of funds, will also help the long-term health of the game of football in Western Australia. As I have said, previous decisions have not enhanced that situation. This Government has gone about it in a rational way. Last Friday, for example, I had a meeting in Parliament House with Wayne Jackson and Andrew Dimetriou from the Australian Football League. They are very concerned about the state of football in Western Australia and they want to make sure it is on an even keel. We had a very fruitful discussion about the way football has been allowed to develop in this State and what can be done in future. In response to the member’s supplementary question, I have not heard that sort of criticism from anybody. I would be very surprised if it was forthcoming.
Mr CARPENTER replied: The member should have given me some notice of the question and I would have been able to provide a breakdown of the financial assistance that the football sector in general receives from the Western Australian community via the State Government. In Western Australia millions of dollars are spent on football, and all the clubs benefit from the great generosity of the people of this State. I have not heard one representative from any other football club in Western Australia raise an objection to the prospect of Subiaco and East Perth being collocated at Leederville Oval on a permanent basis. Every person I have spoken to about this matter has said it is a very sensible idea. The rationalisation of facilities, and therefore the rationalisation of funds, will also help the long-term health of the game of football in Western Australia. As I have said, previous decisions have not enhanced that situation. This Government has gone about it in a rational way. Last Friday, for example, I had a meeting in Parliament House with Wayne Jackson and Andrew Dimetriou from the Australian Football League. They are very concerned about the state of football in Western Australia and they want to make sure it is on an even keel. We had a very fruitful discussion about the way football has been allowed to develop in this State and what can be done in future. In response to the member’s supplementary question, I have not heard that sort of criticism from anybody. I would be very surprised if it was forthcoming.
The member should have given me some notice of the question and I would have been able to provide a breakdown of the financial assistance that the football sector in general receives from the Western Australian community via the State Government. In Western Australia millions of dollars are spent on football, and all the clubs benefit from the great generosity of the people of this State. I have not heard one representative from any other football club in Western Australia raise an objection to the prospect of Subiaco and East Perth being collocated at Leederville Oval on a permanent basis. Every person I have spoken to about this matter has said it is a very sensible idea. The rationalisation of facilities, and therefore the rationalisation of funds, will also help the long-term health of the game of football in Western Australia. As I have said, previous decisions have not enhanced that situation. This Government has gone about it in a rational way. Last Friday, for example, I had a meeting in Parliament House with Wayne Jackson and Andrew Dimetriou from the Australian Football League. They are very concerned about the state of football in Western Australia and they want to make sure it is on an even keel. We had a very fruitful discussion about the way football has been allowed to develop in this State and what can be done in future. In response to the member’s supplementary question, I have not heard that sort of criticism from anybody. I would be very surprised if it was forthcoming.
In response to the member’s supplementary question, I have not heard that sort of criticism from anybody. I would be very surprised if it was forthcoming.

Explore WA Government Data

Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.

Explore more