❓ The Minister for Sport and Recreation provides an update on sporting infrastructure projects across WA, highlighting investments in Perth Hockey Stadium, Hands Oval, and support for Paralympians and grassroots sports. The answer also includes political commentary.
AnsweredQoN 97Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Sport infrastructure
97. Mr Geoff Baker to the Minister for Sport
and Recreation:
I refer to the Cook Labor government's delivery of
record-level investment in community sports.
(1) Can the minister update the house on the
construction of sporting infrastructure projects throughout the state,
including the major redevelopment of the Perth Hockey Stadium?
(2) Can the minister outline to the house how this
government is ensuring that every Western Australian benefits from these
improvements?
97. Mr Geoff Baker to the Minister for Sport
and Recreation:
I refer to the Cook Labor government's delivery of
record-level investment in community sports.
(1) Can the minister update the house on the
construction of sporting infrastructure projects throughout the state,
including the major redevelopment of the Perth Hockey Stadium?
(2) Can the minister outline to the house how this
government is ensuring that every Western Australian benefits from these
improvements?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I thank the member for South Perth
for that question. I acknowledge that the member for Victoria Park and the
member for South Perth were out there today at Curtin University as we unveiled
the first pitch of the new Perth Hockey Stadium redevelopment and the plans for
the next stage. Of course, investing in our sporting infrastructure is
essential to continue to support the growth of the game at the grassroots level
and to make sure that we can continue to host a range of different activities,
particularly national and international games and events, at these incredible
facilities. Today, first of all, we saw the going out to market for the
construction of the rest of this new sports facility. We also saw the first
pitch that has been laid that will allow the Hockeyroos and the Kookaburras to
train in the lead-up to the world championships next year. Last week, in
conjunction with the federal government and the Western Australian Institute of
Sport, we launched the para-sports unit. This initiative supports Paralympians to
train and get to their dream of the Brisbane and Los Angeles Paralympics. This
is a dedicated pathway for Paralympians to be supported and coached to make
sure that there is a clear pathway for Paralympians to reach their dreams and
goals.
On Friday, I was in Bunbury,
where we saw the incredible Hands Oval redevelopment—an investment by
the state government, partnered with local government, to deliver an
outstanding redevelopment that will be hosting our first-ever regional AFL game
of West Coast Eagles versus North Melbourne. Of course, the Matildas will be there
just a few weeks later. Never could we have believed that we would be hosting
such incredible events. Investing in world-class facilities means that we can
support these international events. Of course, it also supports grassroots
sports. We saw, member for Butler, our investment in Eglinton for the Alkimos Vipers—vipers,
tigers; I always get the names wrong—Alkimos Tigers, an incredible
league team in that area, as its participation has grown from 40 to 400 in just
eight years.
This government is looking after
the suburbs and regions across the state. Just from the state of this chamber,
people can tell that we are a government that has put the suburbs and the
community first. We are a government that invests in the heart of the community
to support sport infrastructure.
The Leader of the Opposition
interjected quite a bit before. He talked about community and support out
there. I want to highlight what the Leader of the Opposition said a few days
before the federal election when he was on Sky News saying that he was very,
very confident about the new seat of Bullwinkel. He was very optimistic about
Tom White regaining Curtin and very confident about Tangney, too.
Mr Basil Zempilas: It's talking the team up.
You know, that's what you do.
Ms Rita Saffioti: Well, maybe you should understand
community first, Leader of the Opposition—understand what the community
actually requires and believes. We know the Leader of the Opposition will be
standing next to the Mayor of Victoria Park—the new "no-alition"
in WA. We talked about the Mayor of Vic Park, who I think the member for Roe
referred to. She was engaged during the state election. She was out there
distributing how-to-vote cards on how to put Labor last. This was an issue that
was taken to the people of Western Australia.
We will continue to
work with the community to deliver incredible community infrastructure across
the state. With Hands Oval, we have already seen incredible activity. We have
international and national sporting teams coming to the state wanting to participate
and, of course, along with that, support that grassroots level.
for that question. I acknowledge that the member for Victoria Park and the
member for South Perth were out there today at Curtin University as we unveiled
the first pitch of the new Perth Hockey Stadium redevelopment and the plans for
the next stage. Of course, investing in our sporting infrastructure is
essential to continue to support the growth of the game at the grassroots level
and to make sure that we can continue to host a range of different activities,
particularly national and international games and events, at these incredible
facilities. Today, first of all, we saw the going out to market for the
construction of the rest of this new sports facility. We also saw the first
pitch that has been laid that will allow the Hockeyroos and the Kookaburras to
train in the lead-up to the world championships next year. Last week, in
conjunction with the federal government and the Western Australian Institute of
Sport, we launched the para-sports unit. This initiative supports Paralympians to
train and get to their dream of the Brisbane and Los Angeles Paralympics. This
is a dedicated pathway for Paralympians to be supported and coached to make
sure that there is a clear pathway for Paralympians to reach their dreams and
goals.
On Friday, I was in Bunbury,
where we saw the incredible Hands Oval redevelopment—an investment by
the state government, partnered with local government, to deliver an
outstanding redevelopment that will be hosting our first-ever regional AFL game
of West Coast Eagles versus North Melbourne. Of course, the Matildas will be there
just a few weeks later. Never could we have believed that we would be hosting
such incredible events. Investing in world-class facilities means that we can
support these international events. Of course, it also supports grassroots
sports. We saw, member for Butler, our investment in Eglinton for the Alkimos Vipers—vipers,
tigers; I always get the names wrong—Alkimos Tigers, an incredible
league team in that area, as its participation has grown from 40 to 400 in just
eight years.
This government is looking after
the suburbs and regions across the state. Just from the state of this chamber,
people can tell that we are a government that has put the suburbs and the
community first. We are a government that invests in the heart of the community
to support sport infrastructure.
The Leader of the Opposition
interjected quite a bit before. He talked about community and support out
there. I want to highlight what the Leader of the Opposition said a few days
before the federal election when he was on Sky News saying that he was very,
very confident about the new seat of Bullwinkel. He was very optimistic about
Tom White regaining Curtin and very confident about Tangney, too.
Mr Basil Zempilas: It's talking the team up.
You know, that's what you do.
Ms Rita Saffioti: Well, maybe you should understand
community first, Leader of the Opposition—understand what the community
actually requires and believes. We know the Leader of the Opposition will be
standing next to the Mayor of Victoria Park—the new "no-alition"
in WA. We talked about the Mayor of Vic Park, who I think the member for Roe
referred to. She was engaged during the state election. She was out there
distributing how-to-vote cards on how to put Labor last. This was an issue that
was taken to the people of Western Australia.
We will continue to
work with the community to deliver incredible community infrastructure across
the state. With Hands Oval, we have already seen incredible activity. We have
international and national sporting teams coming to the state wanting to participate
and, of course, along with that, support that grassroots level.
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