Australia has much to be proud of when it comes to the success of our sporting heroes, our international reputation as a sporting powerhouse and our strong sporting heritage.

Sport is integral to Australia's way of life and central to how we view of ourselves and how we’re viewed by the rest of the world. Sport, like no other facet of our culture, has the capacity to bring together our community.

That's why the Rudd Government is committed to being a strong supporter of Australian sport both at the elite and grassroots level.

Central to this commitment is a core belief that sport can make a significant difference to individual Australian lives and our community.

At the elite level we have openly committed to being a strong financial partner with Australian sport - but we have also been clear that when it comes to the elite sporting arena it's critical that we do things smarter and better.

This is why, last year I commissioned the Independent Expert Panel to look at the structures and the systems of the Australian sports system from the Federal Government's own structures and programs, to the relationships with other tiers of Government and National Sporting Organisations.

The Panel’s report was released in November 2009 (www.sportpanel.org.au) and the Government is now considering the reports findings and recommendations. We’ll be responding early in 2010 and will to continue to work with sport to ensure Australia's strong sporting reputation continues.

In the meantime we have not stood still and have been delivering important initiatives for sport both at a grassroots and elite level.

Central to these initiatives is the core belief that a nation's success in sport should not only be measured by the number of medals that we win, or goals we score but also for the difference sport can make for the individual and our community.

Here are some of the fantastic initiatives that the Rudd Government has delivered:
• $300 million boost for local sporting infrastructure through the $800 million Government's Community Infrastructure Program
• $46.9 million in support for almost 100 sporting projects across the country.
• $6.4 million in Local Sporting Champions grants to assist young Australian athletes and junior sports teams aged 12 to 18 to help families cover the cost of attending sporting events http://www.ausport.gov.au/
• $2 million Club Champions partnership utilising the power of sport to tackle irresponsible and damaging drinking in our community through sport leadership education initiatives.
• National Alcohol Code of Conduct signed by Australia's major sporting organisations, as part of the Australian Government's $53.5 million National Binge Drinking Strategy http://www.health.gov.au/alcohol-code-of-conduct.
• $20.1 million Illicit Drugs in Sport - National Education and Prevention Action Plan to help tackle illicit drug use in sport and in the broader community.
• Over $54 million over four years for the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) to help keep Australian Sport dope free.
• The Rudd Government is also undertaking important governance reform of ASADA to ensure we continue to be a world leader in the important fight against doping in sport.
• $400,000 to support Australian baseball to develop the next generation of stars with the establishment of a new national baseball league in partnership with Major League Baseball (US)
• Investing in Australian's Women Sport:
- $1 million to the establishment of the Trans-Tasman ANZ Netball Championships in 2008.
- $400,000 to support free to air television coverage of the 2009 ANZ Netball Championship,
- $100,000 to support the 5th International Working Group (IWG) World Conference on Women in Sport to be held in Sydney in May 2010.
- $1.5 million to Football Federation Australia in support of the implementation and development of the National W-League competition.
- An additional $100,000 for the Sports Leadership Grants for Women
• Investing in Australia as an international events leader
- $45 million to support Australia's bid for the 2018/2022 FIFA World
- Cup. Sign up as Football Federation Australia (FFA) World Cup Ambassador here (www.australia2018-2022.com.au)
- $8.6 million for the 2011World Sailing Championships
- $8.5 million for the 2009 Sydney World Masters Games the globes largest multi-sport participation event.