Media Releases

17 Nov 2009 - Independent panel report maps bold vision for Australian sport

The Minister for Sport Kate Ellis today welcomed the release of The Future of Australian
Sport from the Independent Sport Panel.
The Rudd Government has undertaken the biggest review of sport in more than a
decade to ensure that Australia is prepared for the critical challenges facing sport and
our community in the future.
Underlying challenges have been emerging for Australian elite sport over a number of
years that need be addressed to ensure Australia's continued success on the
international stage.
As a nation it is also clear that the full capacity of sport had not been adequately
harnessed at a community and grass roots level and placed at the centre of
preventative health efforts aimed at tackling serious emerging health issues such as
obesity.
This report challenges us to build a system based on a broad vision for Australian sport.
The Independent Sport Panel featured 39 recommendations including:
" The first ever comprehensive National Sports Policy Framework - a national and
innovative approach to developing sports policy at both an elite and community
level.
" Revolutionising the AIS and our state and territory institutes - the back bone of
elite sport in this country - to create a truly national and world class system for
our athletes.
" A broadening of the definition of sporting success to include measures of our
nation's fitness and participation in activity.
" A focus on physical education in our schools; looking at ways we can increase
participation through innovative and flexible activities and investing in our
sporting infrastructure both in facility and human volunteer terms.
The report does not recommend a funding cut to elite sport or the sport sector as a whole.
The Government remains committed to being a strong financial partner of elite sport into
the future.
The comprehensive report of businessman David Crawford and his team is the product
of consultation with more than 650 groups and individuals across the spectrum of
Australian sport.
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The report examines elite and community level sport as well as sport for young people,
women and men, sport for people with a disability and the engagement of Indigenous
and ethnic Australians.
I thank Mr Crawford and his team for their work in producing this report and I look
forward to working with Australian sport and the community to build a stronger sporting
system for the future.
The Government will consider the recommendations and respond as a priority.
The full report is at www.sportpanel.org.au
Press Secretary: Jayne Stinson 0458 547 512 jayne.stinson@deewr.gov.au