The Leisure Election!

Prior to the last Australian Federal Election, then Prime Minister John Howard outlined how a potential budget surplus could be used to fund local infrastructure such as entertainment venues, sports stadia, aquatic centres and other community facilities.
In the somewhat different economic climate of the last three years, the Labor Government under the Prime Ministership of first Kevin Rudd and then Julia Gillard, have committed $800 million of funding for the type of infrastructure that John Howard suggested. This funding has been forthcoming under the Federal Government’s Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Programs while Government has also contributed additional funds to flagship entertainment and sporting facilities.
With the current Federal Election upon us, and political commentators lamenting the paucity of debate and policy differentials between the main political groups, it appears that pledges to fund leisure infrastructure projects have become a key area in which politicians are seeking to gain votes.
Ignoring the fiscal responsibility and belt tightening policies of other developed nations, Australia’s politicians have instead sought to attract votes through funding pledges for stadiums, sportsgrounds, surf education centres, waterparks and the like.
Into this policy vacuum, it has been encouraging to see several of the leisure industry’s peak and professional bodies take a lead in lobbying the major political parties. The Australian Leisure Facilities Association; the Australian Womensport and Recreation Association; performing arts peak bodies the Australian Performing Arts Centres Association, the Australian Major Performing Arts Group, and Live Performance Australia; a group of organisations committed to active transport along with fitness and weight loss industry leaders, have each made key policy and funding recommendations for Australia’s next Government to address.
Nigel Benton, Publisher, Australasian Leisure Management. http://www.ausleisure.com/