Australian Greens: Failing to plan is planning to fail, and we’re failing community sport in the ACT

In April 2021, ACT Greens Member for Brindabella Johnathan Davis MLA secured tri-partisan support for a suite of policy commitments relating to community sport in the ACT.  In April 2022, the ACT Government provided an update on some of the work completed to date. In Estimates today, Johnathan Davis MLA asked for an update on this  yet uncompleted work – the Canberra community is still waiting for outcomes.

‘The ACT Greens took a comprehensive suite of policies to the 2020 ACT election relating to community sport. I am working hard to honour those commitments’ Mr Davis said.

‘That’s why I worked hard to secure tri-partisan support in the Assembly for a suite of policy commitments relating to community sport in the ACT, including the development of a long-term strategic plan and a detailed facilities management plan.’

‘We’re 18 months down the track, and we haven’t seen progress. No strategic plan, no facilities management plan – nothing’.

‘While I always welcome the ACT Government making investments in community sport, I grow increasingly concerned that millions of dollars are being invested in an ad-hoc fashion based on how well some community sports organisations lobby – not on where funding is most needed.’

‘Community sporting organisations shouldn’t have to come cap in hand to the Government, actively competing for a finite amount of funding. Instead, the Government should aspire to a transparent and accountable process for funding, complemented by long term planning developed in deep consultation with community sport.’

‘All government funding should be allocated as a result of transparent and accountable processes and it is concerning that this is not the case for our sporting facilities.’

‘I’m calling on the ACT Government to honour its commitment to the Assembly and finalise then release a long-term strategic plan and a detailed facilities management plan as soon as possible’ Mr Davis concluded.