❓ Mr. Rundle questions the Minister for Sport and Recreation on their role in supporting cultural change within gymnastics, particularly regarding athlete welfare, given the limitations of the Minister's direct influence over WAIS. The Minister acknowledges the issue and outlines steps being taken to address athlete welfare concerns.
AnsweredQoN 53Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
WESTERN AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF SPORT — GYMNASTS
53. Mr P.J. RUNDLE to the Minister for Sport and
Recreation:
I have a supplementary question. I thank
the minister for that answer. Given the limitations of the minister's
role in relation to the board, does he see a role for him to play to support
those involved and to ensure cultural change in the sport that is genuine and
meaningful?
53. Mr P.J. RUNDLE to the Minister for Sport and
Recreation:
I have a supplementary question. I thank
the minister for that answer. Given the limitations of the minister's
role in relation to the board, does he see a role for him to play to support
those involved and to ensure cultural change in the sport that is genuine and
meaningful?
AnswerView source ↗
As I mentioned, I do not have the
legal power to make WAIS do X, Y or Z. But there is no gymnastics program at
WAIS anymore. It came to an end I think around 2016. With regard to the welfare
of children in sport, that is an issue of major consideration in my objectives
going forward on this matter. Last year, as the member would realise, we had a Public
Accounts Committee inquiry into the West Australian Football Commission, and
one of our recommendations was on player welfare. I see player and athlete
welfare as being incredibly important. One of the problems that came about from
this abuse was due to the desire to win at all cost. Many of these athletes are
as young as six, seven and eight years. A gymnast who was here the other day
started at WAIS at five years of age. She told us that her parents were not
allowed to stay and observe the training. That is just not acceptable. There is
a particular problem inherent with gymnastics, because the majority of them are
very young, and I think about 80 per cent are female—young girls—but
there does not have to be. One would hope that the 12 recommendations in the
Australian Human Rights Commission report are adhered to so that gymnastics can
be a sport that is loved and enjoyed by young girls leading into their
adolescence and further on.
Member, I look forward to WAIS and
the athletes coming to an agreement on the terms of reference for the inquiry
by Sport Integrity Australia, and we will see what happens after that.
The SPEAKER : The member for Kalgoorlie with her first
question.
legal power to make WAIS do X, Y or Z. But there is no gymnastics program at
WAIS anymore. It came to an end I think around 2016. With regard to the welfare
of children in sport, that is an issue of major consideration in my objectives
going forward on this matter. Last year, as the member would realise, we had a Public
Accounts Committee inquiry into the West Australian Football Commission, and
one of our recommendations was on player welfare. I see player and athlete
welfare as being incredibly important. One of the problems that came about from
this abuse was due to the desire to win at all cost. Many of these athletes are
as young as six, seven and eight years. A gymnast who was here the other day
started at WAIS at five years of age. She told us that her parents were not
allowed to stay and observe the training. That is just not acceptable. There is
a particular problem inherent with gymnastics, because the majority of them are
very young, and I think about 80 per cent are female—young girls—but
there does not have to be. One would hope that the 12 recommendations in the
Australian Human Rights Commission report are adhered to so that gymnastics can
be a sport that is loved and enjoyed by young girls leading into their
adolescence and further on.
Member, I look forward to WAIS and
the athletes coming to an agreement on the terms of reference for the inquiry
by Sport Integrity Australia, and we will see what happens after that.
The SPEAKER : The member for Kalgoorlie with her first
question.
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