❓ Ms. Hamilton asks about the Cook government's plans to support WA athletes for the 2028 and 2032 Olympics/Paralympics, and how this builds on community sport investment. The Minister details WAIS funding increases and community sport initiatives like KidSport.
AnsweredQoN 553Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ATHLETES —
GOVERNMENT SUPPORT
553. Ms E.L. HAMILTON to the Minister for Sport and
Recreation:
I refer to the
Cook Labor government's continued support for Western Australian
athletes participating at all levels of sport.
(1)
Can the minister advise the house how this government will support the next
generation of WA athletes at the 2028 and 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games,
building on our record success this year?
(2)
Can the minister advise the house how this support builds on the government's
record investment in community sport and participation?
GOVERNMENT SUPPORT
553. Ms E.L. HAMILTON to the Minister for Sport and
Recreation:
I refer to the
Cook Labor government's continued support for Western Australian
athletes participating at all levels of sport.
(1)
Can the minister advise the house how this government will support the next
generation of WA athletes at the 2028 and 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games,
building on our record success this year?
(2)
Can the minister advise the house how this support builds on the government's
record investment in community sport and participation?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I thank the member for Joondalup for her
question, and I will mirror the words of the Premier earlier this week.
On Tuesday night we were at Perth Airport to welcome home the contingent of the
Australian team from Paris, the Olympians. Many of them flew on to Sydney, but
we were able to welcome our Western Australian athletes. What a tremendous
achievement by all those athletes who participated, representing Western Australia
in that near-record number of Olympians who went to Paris. It was a remarkable
time.
Mr R.H. Cook : Who did you get a selfie
with?
Mr D.A.
TEMPLEMAN : I have got to say that Jess Fox walked past and I snapped a selfie with her, but there was a whole
range of wonderful athletes and wonderful performances. It is very important
that when we were welcoming the athletes, the Premier was able to highlight the
massive investment that we have announced for the Western Australian Institute
of Sport. I acknowledge Matt Fulton and the team at WAIS, and Dr Neale Fong,
the board chair, for the wonderful work that they have done, and the $20.8 million
investment of additional money towards WAIS. It sees WAIS at a huge funding
level that will set it on a great path towards the green and gold pathway
through to LA in 2028 and, of course, the Australian games again in Brisbane in
2032. That money includes a $9 million base funding increase for WAIS and $7.5 million
for improvements in its operations, including governance, athlete development
and care programs focusing on the athletes and their wellbeing as they move
through the high-performance program that is delivered at WAIS. It includes
half a million dollars for refurbishment of the high-performance service centre
there to support additional staff. This of course means that we will set a path
for any young person who is selected for a WAIS program now and into the future
as we lead up to those two Olympic Games in the next decade. We will set up the
very best opportunity for any young man or woman who has been selected by WAIS
to succeed.
It also dovetails with the announcements
the government has made on supporting sport more broadly, because it is all
connected. Nina Kennedy started off in athletics in Busselton as a young girl;
all the Nina Kennedys of this world start in and are engaged with community
sport. What has the government done in that area? We have enhanced the KidSport
program, with vouchers going from $150 to $300 and now to $500 to make sure
more and more kids and young people have the opportunity to participate in
community sport. Also, boosts to the community sporting and recreation
facilities fund have resulted in more playing fields being lit and more change
rooms transformed or built to cater for the increase in the participation of
girls and young women in sport. It is all connected, because this government
recognises the value of engagement in sport for health and mental health.
P athways
are also being created, and I am very pleased to say that I have had a great
conversation with CEO Matt Fulton about linking WAIS even more closely
to our academy programs that operate in regional Western Australia. Many
regional members have academies that operate there. I have been to a number of
them—in Albany, in Bunbury and in my own area—and thanks to the
linkages from WAIS to those young athletes, many 13-year-olds to 17-year-olds
in regional Western Australia will also be able to see a pathway, so that if
they have the aspiration, skill and talent to be in the next wave of Western Australian
representatives in the Olympics and Paralympics, they will succeed because of
the Cook government's investment. I am really proud of where things are
at.
T oday,
I met some students from Coodanup College. They asked, ''How come you're
so happy?'' I said, ''Because I love what I do. I love my
portfolios. I'm taking all the credit for the success of our sporting
teams!'' They introduced me to a word—''skibidi''.
They said, ''Oh, you're having a skibidi time.'' So, to
the kids and young people at Coodanup College, I am having a skibidi time! They
assured me it was a good word; I hope it is! Everyone is reaching for their
glossary of terms! ''Sigma'' is another one!
This
is a great news story with tremendous achievements in Paris. We now look
forward to our 20 Western Australian Paralympians being part of the team
at the Paralympics in Paris later this month. This is all wonderful. Funding
increases to KidSport, the CSRFF and other programs will ensure that more
girls, boys, young women and young men will be able to access sporting
facilities no matter where they live in this state. That is what this
government is about. I am proud to be the Minister for Sport and Recreation. I think
I am the most successful sports minister for some time; I would like to take
that credit! We are on a great journey and road forward.
Several members interjected.
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN :
Skibidi-dibidi! We are on a great journey for the green and gold pathway
through to Los Angeles and to Brisbane in 2032. A lot of Western Australians
will be part of those teams as we move forward. It is a very proud moment.
The SPEAKER : I call the
Leader of the Liberal Party with the last question
question, and I will mirror the words of the Premier earlier this week.
On Tuesday night we were at Perth Airport to welcome home the contingent of the
Australian team from Paris, the Olympians. Many of them flew on to Sydney, but
we were able to welcome our Western Australian athletes. What a tremendous
achievement by all those athletes who participated, representing Western Australia
in that near-record number of Olympians who went to Paris. It was a remarkable
time.
Mr R.H. Cook : Who did you get a selfie
with?
Mr D.A.
TEMPLEMAN : I have got to say that Jess Fox walked past and I snapped a selfie with her, but there was a whole
range of wonderful athletes and wonderful performances. It is very important
that when we were welcoming the athletes, the Premier was able to highlight the
massive investment that we have announced for the Western Australian Institute
of Sport. I acknowledge Matt Fulton and the team at WAIS, and Dr Neale Fong,
the board chair, for the wonderful work that they have done, and the $20.8 million
investment of additional money towards WAIS. It sees WAIS at a huge funding
level that will set it on a great path towards the green and gold pathway
through to LA in 2028 and, of course, the Australian games again in Brisbane in
2032. That money includes a $9 million base funding increase for WAIS and $7.5 million
for improvements in its operations, including governance, athlete development
and care programs focusing on the athletes and their wellbeing as they move
through the high-performance program that is delivered at WAIS. It includes
half a million dollars for refurbishment of the high-performance service centre
there to support additional staff. This of course means that we will set a path
for any young person who is selected for a WAIS program now and into the future
as we lead up to those two Olympic Games in the next decade. We will set up the
very best opportunity for any young man or woman who has been selected by WAIS
to succeed.
It also dovetails with the announcements
the government has made on supporting sport more broadly, because it is all
connected. Nina Kennedy started off in athletics in Busselton as a young girl;
all the Nina Kennedys of this world start in and are engaged with community
sport. What has the government done in that area? We have enhanced the KidSport
program, with vouchers going from $150 to $300 and now to $500 to make sure
more and more kids and young people have the opportunity to participate in
community sport. Also, boosts to the community sporting and recreation
facilities fund have resulted in more playing fields being lit and more change
rooms transformed or built to cater for the increase in the participation of
girls and young women in sport. It is all connected, because this government
recognises the value of engagement in sport for health and mental health.
P athways
are also being created, and I am very pleased to say that I have had a great
conversation with CEO Matt Fulton about linking WAIS even more closely
to our academy programs that operate in regional Western Australia. Many
regional members have academies that operate there. I have been to a number of
them—in Albany, in Bunbury and in my own area—and thanks to the
linkages from WAIS to those young athletes, many 13-year-olds to 17-year-olds
in regional Western Australia will also be able to see a pathway, so that if
they have the aspiration, skill and talent to be in the next wave of Western Australian
representatives in the Olympics and Paralympics, they will succeed because of
the Cook government's investment. I am really proud of where things are
at.
T oday,
I met some students from Coodanup College. They asked, ''How come you're
so happy?'' I said, ''Because I love what I do. I love my
portfolios. I'm taking all the credit for the success of our sporting
teams!'' They introduced me to a word—''skibidi''.
They said, ''Oh, you're having a skibidi time.'' So, to
the kids and young people at Coodanup College, I am having a skibidi time! They
assured me it was a good word; I hope it is! Everyone is reaching for their
glossary of terms! ''Sigma'' is another one!
This
is a great news story with tremendous achievements in Paris. We now look
forward to our 20 Western Australian Paralympians being part of the team
at the Paralympics in Paris later this month. This is all wonderful. Funding
increases to KidSport, the CSRFF and other programs will ensure that more
girls, boys, young women and young men will be able to access sporting
facilities no matter where they live in this state. That is what this
government is about. I am proud to be the Minister for Sport and Recreation. I think
I am the most successful sports minister for some time; I would like to take
that credit! We are on a great journey and road forward.
Several members interjected.
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN :
Skibidi-dibidi! We are on a great journey for the green and gold pathway
through to Los Angeles and to Brisbane in 2032. A lot of Western Australians
will be part of those teams as we move forward. It is a very proud moment.
The SPEAKER : I call the
Leader of the Liberal Party with the last question
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