Labor Cuts Put Grassroots Sport at Risk

 ANGIE BELL MP

SHADOW MINISTER FOR THE ARTS, SPORT AND YOUTH

LABOR CUTS PUT GRASSROOTS SPORT AT RISK

The Albanese Labor Government has dealt a $182 million blow to grassroots sport.

Australian Sports Commission CEO and Olympian Kieran Perkins OAM, revealed during Senate Estimates that the Government ignored advice to provide ongoing funding for a group of key sporting programs.

Programs facing uncertainty beyond the next 12 months include Sporting Schools, Play Well, Local Para Champions, and Local Sporting Champions.

“The participation-based funding programs received a one year terminating measure status for the 26-27 budget year”, Mr Perkins said.

Mr Perkins warned the Sporting Schools program alone would see “close to two million children” participate in free after-school sport this year, and that ending the program “would have an impact on the number of children getting the opportunity to play free sport after school”.

He said this lack of long-term funding certainty “would limit those organisations capacity to provide participation-based growth programs within their sporting environments”.

Despite these warnings, the Albanese Labor Government stripped ongoing funding for these programs, slashing the sporting grants budget from $331 million in 2025-26 to $151 million in 2029-30 – a reduction of $182 million.

Shadow Minister for Sport, Angie Bell MP said Labor is more interested in their bottom line than supporting grassroots sport and the communities that rely on it.

“At a time when families are tightening their belts, affordable community sport has never been more important,” Ms Bell said.

“These programs help millions of Australians stay active, connected and involved in sport, and cutting support for community, school and disability sport programs will hit families and local clubs hard.”

“Instead of backing grassroots sport, Labor is creating more uncertainty for the organisations delivering these vital programs.”

“With the 2032 Olympics fast approaching, the Government should be backing the programs that help develop our future Olympians and Paralympians – not putting them at risk.”

ENDS