Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure, $501,908,000

Administered Items for the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure, $10,022,000

Membership:

Mr Whetstone substituted for Mr Treloar.

Hon. I.F. Evans substituted for Mr Knoll.

Minister:

Hon. L.W.K. Bignell, Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Tourism, Minister for Recreation and Sport, Minister for Racing.

Departmental Advisers:

Mr P. Anderson, Executive Director, Development and Infrastructure, Office for Recreation and Sport, Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure.

Mr I. Houridis, Director, Facility, Development and Infrastructure, Office for Recreation and Sport, Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure.

Ms K. Taylor, Director, Sport and Recreation Development, Office for Recreation and Sport, Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure.

Mr W. Battams, Director, South Australian Sports Institute, Office for Recreation and Sport, Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure.

Mr T. Nicholas, Manager, Finance and Accounting Operations, Office for Recreation and Sport, Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure.

Ms J. Tepohe, Director, Finance, Office of the Chief Executive, Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure.

The CHAIR: Rather than read out the entire remarks statement, I will just remind members that we really do appreciate the line number, and that we are agreed on the time table of 2pm to 3.30pm for Rec and Sport; is that correct?

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: Yes.

The CHAIR: Excellent. We will live it at that then. I declare the proposed payments open for examination, and call on the minister to make an opening statement if he wishes.

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: The Office for Recreation and Sport, within the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure, plays the lead role in implementing state government policy on sport and active recreation. It works in partnership with the sport and recreation sector and all levels of government to deliver sport and recreation opportunities, services, programs and facilities.

In 2013-14, the Office for Recreation and Sport received and assessed more than 1,600 applications through its various funding programs for organisations and individuals. During 2013-14, across a range of grant programs, 1,077 grants totalling $21.279 million were approved. A breakdown of this allocation is:

Active Club Program—529 successful applicants sharing in $2.35 million;

Sport and Recreation Sustainability Program—74 eligible organisations sharing in $3 million;

Sport and Recreation Development and Inclusion Program—132 successful projects and more than 141 individual scholarships totalling $4.11 million. Of those, 53 projects were identified to assist with inclusion-based initiatives;

Community Recreation and Sport Facility Program—80 successful projects sharing in $7.32 million;

State Facility Fund—$500,000 for the development of a state level diamond facility at West Beach; and

Special Purpose Funding—cabinet approved a one-off $4 million increase to expenditure for sport and recreation facility development and projects in 2013-14. 120 grantees were approved for special purpose funding, which totalled close to that $4 million mark.

To support the implementation of a performance-based investment strategy, the Office for Recreation and Sport places a strong focus on customer and industry relationships to drive and support agreed outcomes. Each funded state sport, recreation or industry body is assigned a designated industry adviser to support the relationship between the government, the organisation and their affiliates. The industry adviser works with the paid staff, boards and volunteers of sport and recreation organisations to support business improvement initiatives.

In 2013-14, the Office for Recreation and Sport worked with all sport and recreation representative bodies and state associations to implement a 360° Review. An Australian first, the 360° Review was designed to provide feedback on the communication, services, leadership and policy support provided to clubs and thus drive alignment and continuous improvement of the sport and recreation sector. The review recognised that participation in sport or recreation is largely facilitated by volunteer clubs and associations, and peak bodies need to be aware of and responsive to the needs of their clubs. In the past 12 months, the Office for Recreation and Sport provided 130 training and development opportunities to support the industry in the following areas:

coaching, volunteering and officiating;

child-safe environments;

governance and board-related functions;

inclusion; and

leadership.

A range of partnerships have been developed to deliver 122 participation programs for people traditionally underrepresented in sport and active recreation participation. This includes the following population groups: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, women and girls, people with disabilities and people from a culturally and linguistically diverse background.

The Office for Recreation and Sport delivered the inaugural Tour de Nunga—an initiative that aims to build leadership skills, improve capacity in metropolitan, regional and remote communities and increase mountain bike participation in Indigenous communities. The Tour de Nunga identified potential community leaders and provided a ride leadership program culminating in the Wilpena Pound riding event. Throughout the year, leaders worked with their local communities to develop cycling skills and nominated individuals to participate in the Tour de Nunga.

The inaugural 'Around the Pound' tour was held in October 2013 and great excitement is already building for 2014. Talent identification also occurred as part of the Tour de Nunga, and a couple of young males from the Port Lincoln area have been tested by SASI for potential within the sport of cycling, with one showing particular promise.

The Office for Recreation and Sport delivered the Sport and Women Conference, Governance, Diversity and Opportunity: Are you on Board? at the Adelaide Hilton Hotel in April this year, and I was pleased to attend that wonderful conference. It was aimed at senior-level executives from both business and sporting organisations with the goal of promoting and improving:

good governance—sport governance adapting to embrace best-practice models;

diversity—not just fair but good for business; and

opportunity—giving women more options and input within sport.

The conference was well-attended and outcomes will be enhanced through the framework of 'Words into Action'—a resource developed by the Premier's Council for Women.

Starclub—the Office for Recreation and Sport club development tool for community clubs—has gone from strength to strength since launching in July 2010. The free online tool provides information on 25 steps to becoming a Starclub, which equates to a well-managed club where quality coaches, officials and volunteers work together in a safe and welcoming environment.

There are 2,000 organisations and individuals registered with Starclub, with more than 1,800 commencing the self-assessment. A number of state sporting organisations have seen the benefit for their affiliated clubs, with the South Australian Cricket Association, Yachting SA and the SA Rifle Association all requesting their clubs to get on board. Starclub is currently working alongside other state sporting organisations and local councils to help improve the overall governance in their clubs.

In December, the Office for Recreation and Sport launched V-Star—a sport and recreation-specific interactive web tool to help clubs better manage their volunteers. V-Star is full of ideas and downloadable templates, making it easy for clubs and associations to use. The free web tool links to the 'Volunteers Valued' section of Starclub, but is also accessible as a stand-alone tool. V-Star aims to:

improve the quality of volunteer management in sport and recreation clubs;

give clubs one trusted, up-to-date, comprehensive location to access the information they require;

make the complex task of coordinating volunteers much easier; and

help clubs attract and retain more volunteers.

The V-Star online tool has also been recognised as 'best in class' in the non-profit category at the US-based Interactive Media Awards. Integrity and respect in sport are key areas that have been identified as growing concerns and challenging areas for organisations to manage. As a result of the Australian Crime Commission and the federal government releasing a report on 7 February last year titled Organised Crime and Drugs in Sport, also known as Project Aperio, the Office for Recreation and Sport held an integrity workshop in November last year for the sports industry.

This highlighted that South Australia's sports sector is susceptible to the issues identified in the Australian Crime Commission report, particularly at a sub-elite level. Following the workshop, the Office for Recreation and Sport established the South Australian Sport Integrity Network to regularly provide the industry with up-to-date information on integrity issues and to close the information gap on integrity issues between the elite and sub-elite levels of sport. Through SASIN, South Australian sporting organisations will be regularly reminded to remain committed to safeguarding themselves from integrity issues.

Building on the national Play by the Rules strategy, a respect in sport program has been developed by the Office for Recreation and Sport. This strategy aims to assist sports organisations to identify major conflict issues and provide a practical approach for them to promote positive behaviour changes by educating and working with their community.

The catchcry slogan 'Fair Enough' encourages recognition of all people involved in sport, regardless of their role, who deserve and should exhibit fair and reasonable behaviour. Grant funding has been provided to 10 sports associations to develop short videos to market this message. This suite of videos is complemented by a longer educational video and resources for practical application in clubs. This resource is available to all sport and recreation organisations.

Through the Committee of Australian Sport and Recreation Officials, South Australia took a leading role in the conduct of a national recreation working group. At the first workshop, this group agreed that all state departments of sport and recreation would recommit to a definition of recreation that focused on active recreation. The working group will now prepare a paper to all state ministers affirming that they would support future work to coordinate more effective implementation of the National Sport and Active Recreation Policy Framework from an active recreation perspective.

This was a major achievement and is significant in that it seeks to elevate the importance of active recreation at a national level. I will recap by thanking all the staff and leadership at the Office for Recreation and Sport. As you have just heard, there is a diverse number of really positive things that are happening thanks to the good work of the Office for Recreation and Sport and the way they work with councils, other government departments and sporting organisations and members of clubs right throughout the state.

Mr WHETSTONE: I guess we will just get into the question conversation. I refer to Budget Paper 4, Volume 3, page 83 under Financial Commentary, at the second dot point regarding the introduction of the voucher system for primary school children. What are the criteria for a student to apply under the system? Is it targeted to disadvantaged students only, similar to interstate models?

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: It will be available to all primary school students. There is no means testing or anything like that, as long as they are a member of a bona fide sporting club. There is no-one who is going to be unable to get the money on the grounds of how much their parents earn.

Mr WHETSTONE: How does the government plan to deliver a $50 voucher to the 160,000 primary school children in South Australia with just $7.7 million over four years? Why was the scheme not based on a high percentage take-up?

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: We have done research and looked at examples interstate and that was the figure that we came up with, but if it requires more we will look to fund that. When you look at all the primary school students—and it takes in the very young in Reception—we know that, with the bigger numbers of people playing club sport, in particular after that year 2 and 3 level, we will not have every primary school student in the state taking it up.

Mr WHETSTONE: No. What government departments and community groups were consulted regarding the school voucher policy before it was released?

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: The Office for Recreation and Sport has put up papers on this particular issue over the last few years, so we knew the views of the Office for Recreation and Sport, but it was announced during caretaker mode.

Mr WHETSTONE: Was the Office for Recreation and Sport consulted with the final advice of that policy?

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: We were in caretaker mode, so no.

Mr WHETSTONE: Before caretaker mode?

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: We have had papers put up before by the Office for Recreation and Sport, so we had an idea of what was involved. I am out talking to sporting organisations all the time and the peak bodies, and we know that there was a demand for something like this to give some relief to the financial circumstances of families right across the state. We listened to that feedback and came up with a policy that we are now beginning to implement.

Mr WHETSTONE: I understand what you are saying. So you did not consult with the rec and sport office before caretaker mode?

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: No; well, we had, but not specifically on this.

Mr WHETSTONE: Did the government seek advice from the Office for Recreation and Sport about targeting students' uptake and the figure of that voucher election promise?

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: As I have said, papers were put up previously which reflected what was happening in other states, so we had an idea of how these programs worked in other states, and that is what we announced.

Mr WHETSTONE: Will children playing sport for their local school or team, or engaging in physical activity outside their club system, be eligible for a $50 voucher?

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: No, it is for primary school students who are involved in a bona fide sporting organisation or club.

Mr WHETSTONE: Was there a qualification for those sporting clubs to be involved in the voucher scheme, and what was the qualification? How many clubs will qualify?

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: All the clubs have to be members of their state association. Just to confirm something, the children do not have to be an existing member of a club. It is designed to encourage people to join up clubs as well.

The Hon. I.F. EVANS: So, minister, for every sports club in the state, as long as they are a member of their state association, every primary school child who is a member of that sporting club is eligible for $50 voucher?

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: Each child is eligible for only one $50 voucher. If somebody is a member of a tennis club and a football club, they will get only one $50 payment. It is designed to not only give them—

The Hon. I.F. EVANS: When are the vouchers distributed?

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: If I can just finish, it is designed not only to help families ease their financial burden but it is also about getting people to think about playing club sport and in turn helping fund the sporting clubs.

The Hon. I.F. EVANS: When are the vouchers issued? How do I as a parent claim for my child? Is it during the football season, the cricket season, is it issued on 1 January, or is it issued on 1 July?

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: We will start issuing the vouchers early next year. As school goes back—

The Hon. I.F. EVANS: Won't that advantage the summer sports?

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: That will be up to the families involved and when they need the $50 and when it is going to help them the most.

The Hon. I.F. EVANS: And the only qualification on the clubs is—and they do not have to be a member of the Starclub, there no issue like that—that they are a member of their state association. I thought your policy had another qualification.

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: I am advised that the Office for Recreation and Sport is still working through to the final model, and that is one option.

The Hon. I.F. EVANS: If the final model is not determined, how did the department put the numbers into the budget as to how many people are going to take up this option if you are not sure which model you are dealing with? In your introductory comments, minister, you said there were about 1,800 clubs taking up Starclub this year, a couple of thousand before.

Previously, the rec and sport office has said that they do not know how many clubs there are in the state, that they do not keep a record of that, which I find bizarre. How did you model it? If your model is not determined as of today, how then did the Treasurer/minister/Office for Recreation and Sport come up with the number in the budget, which is about 23 per cent or something of students cashing in the voucher? I would have thought that, if you just looked at the number of primary school students who are already actively involved in sport, there would be more than 23 per cent.

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: The figure is not based on the number of kids who are participating in sport, it is based on the number who will take up the offer. We know that some families will not worry with filling in the forms and doing it, so this is our estimate of how many people will take it up.

The Hon. I.F. EVANS: Minister, your opening answer was that every primary school child in the state will be eligible. That is not true if the club to which they belong has to be a member of the Starclub, because most clubs are not yet members of Starclub.

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: Excuse me, I did not say that at all.

The Hon. I.F. EVANS: Really?

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: I did not say that at all. I said that every primary school student will be eligible, in terms of there will be no means testing, but they have to belong to a bona fide club. I have said that right from the start, so do not try to take one little bit of an answer—

The Hon. I.F. EVANS: Does 'bona fide club' mean a Starclub?

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: Well, I have just explained that. Are we just going to go around in circles?

The Hon. I.F. EVANS: So, you are not sure yet. When will that decision be made?

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: It has not been put forward that they have to be a member of a Starclub.

The Hon. I.F. EVANS: But it is being considered?

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: The final model is being considered.

Ms DIGANCE: I refer to Budget Paper 4, Volume 3, pages 83 to 85. Could you please explain the benefits which may be achieved through the recent investments in sporting facilities at the Adelaide Shores?

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: I thank the member for Elder for her question. Adelaide Shores is a 135-hectare tourism, sport and recreation precinct managed by the West Beach Trust, which reports through its board to the Minister for Planning, John Rau. Situated at West Beach, Adelaide Shores is a delightful site which has acted as a convenient holiday base for generations of South Australians and interstate tourists who wish to relax and enjoy the state's beautiful coast and many tourist attractions. It is also a fantastic open space venue where sport is able to be enjoyed by participants and spectators alike.

The West Beach Recreation Reserve manages and maintains more than 18 hectares of playing fields. This provides a very significant portion of the City of West Torrens and indeed the western region of Adelaide's public green open space. The state government is building on existing services, facilities and a variety of sports which are already based at West Beach. It aims to maximise outcomes for the community from its investment in sporting infrastructure through the development of the Adelaide Shores Diamond Sports facility and the recently completed Adelaide Shores Football Centre.

The state government level of investment into these two facilities alone is in the order of $5 million, which underlines the commitment this government has to the development of Adelaide Shores as a community sports hub for the people of South Australia. The development of the Diamond Sports facility will ensure softball and baseball players can play at a high-quality state-level facility on the best surfaces available.

It will also attract new sporting events and tourism to Adelaide and enhance the long-term viability of both sports, enabling the development of a centre of excellence for baseball and softball. This will provide clear pathways for local players into higher levels of the sports, as well as attracting teams from interstate and overseas to camps and training opportunities here in Adelaide.

The Adelaide Shores Football Centre officially opened in January 2014, creating South Australia's first Class A FIFA-rated synthetic pitch. The facility includes competition-level lighting, change rooms, kiosk, meeting and function rooms, and spectator facilities. It was certainly great to be down there for the opening of that wonderful facility.

The Adelaide Shores Football Centre will be home to the Adelaide United's women's football team, the Lady Reds, and will host a range of regular matches and training, from juniors through to state league. One of the important benefits of the synthetic pitch is how it will help alleviate the strong demand for metropolitan football pitches, particularly during the wetter months when games at other venues are cancelled because of poor pitch conditions. The facility is multipurpose, also being able to cater for rugby and lacrosse, which will see the Australian lacrosse team using it for training and for state lacrosse matches.

There are plans to develop a number of sports camps, academies and events at the facility, utilising the adjacent Adelaide Shores accommodation, playing fields and complementary sporting facilities. This will further enhance the economic and social value of the Adelaide Shores to the region.

This new sporting infrastructure will further assist the government in achieving its preventative health goals through encouraging greater participation in active, healthy lifestyles. The development of appropriate facilities which meet modern expectations is important in encouraging participation. For sport sustainability, developing a facility at Adelaide Shores among a cluster of sports facilities assists long-term viability, as it provides sporting clubs with an opportunity to share facilities and resources, improving their efficiency which, in turn, assists them to attract new members and retain existing members.

Adelaide Shores has shown its ability to contribute directly to support a range of sporting events by hosting a significant number of teams and sports from university games, masters games and Special Olympics, to name just a few. Of course, there are the SAPSASA carnivals which sees hundreds of schoolchildren competing for their schools on the playing fields. These events have provided direct financial benefits not only to the region but also to the sports based at Adelaide Shores, as well as raising the profile of the sports.

The current development of the Diamond Sports Centre has already resulted in South Australia securing the first national softball event for many years, in the 2015 under-19 women's softball national championship, taking place in January next year.

Mr WHETSTONE: You were saying that the modelling related to the 160,000 public school or primary school students. Will the 53,000 children in private and Catholic schools be eligible for the $50 voucher?

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: Yes, it is all primary school students.

Mr WHETSTONE: So that is 213,000 students eligible for $50 vouchers—eligible if they are part of a club. What happens if the fund is fully exhausted?

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: It is an election promise and we will try to find funds to make sure that we pay for it.

Mr WHETSTONE: What allocation of the $7.7 million over four years for the program will be spent on administration and staff?

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: We have allocated 0.5 of a full-time equivalent to the role at this stage. We will be relying on an IT system—for which we are very grateful to the Western Australian government as it has given it to us free of charge in a very good sign of cooperation. We have our Office for Recreation and Sport and the Western Australian office works closely together so it is terrific that they have given us that so that we do not have to go out and build a system; we will just be able to use the Western Australian model here and we will have someone in the Office for Rec and Sport administering that system.

Mr WHETSTONE: So you are saying a half-time or 0.5 full FTE will administer potentially 200,000 students.

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: In the first instance, to get the system up and running, we have allocated 0.5 of an FTE and we are still evaluating what staffing levels we will need to staff it into the future.

Mr WHETSTONE: Budget Paper 5, page 76, looking at forward estimates: why is there not an equal amount spent on the Be Active voucher program during the 2015-16 and the 2016-17 years?

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: It is an incremental rise. We figure that, as people get to hear about it, we will have more people in the second, third and fourth year taking up the offer.

Mr WHETSTONE: So, those over 200,000 students are potentially able to access that $50 voucher annually?

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: Absolutely, providing they meet all of the rules, which are that you belong to a bona fide sports club.

Mr WHETSTONE: I refer to Budget Paper 4, Volume 3, page 85, under Activity indicators. What high-performance sports program has been axed in the 2014-15 year?

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: We have moved out of gymnastics because they decided not to continue with their trampoline program here, but the other nine programs remain.

Mr WHETSTONE: What is the budget commitment to high-performance sports programs, and can you list the programs and funding for each year?

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: The South Australian Sports Institute's focus is on supporting those South Australian sporting athletes with the greatest chance of achieving success on the world stage in the form of Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth games and world championship medals. SASI provides four types of scholarship and awards opportunities, sports programs and program squad scholarships, high performance and Paralympic scholarships, talented athlete awards and country athlete awards.

SASI sports programs scholarships are offered for nine targeted SASI sports programs; these include canoe sprint, cycling, diving, hockey, netball, rowing, swimming, volley ball and water polo. These sports programs receive the benefit of full-time high-performance coaches and full access to sports science and medicine and domestic competition support. SASI high-performance and Paralympic scholarship programs offer financial and service assistance to targeted individual elite-level athletes in Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth games sports.

Scholarship grants of approximately $2,000 to $4,500 are offered annually to approximately 15 Paralympic athletes and 20 Olympic and Commonwealth games potential athletes. Approximately $110,000 each year is allocated to the program.

The SASI Talented Athlete Award Program offers financial assistance to talented junior athletes aged 13 to 20 years to assist them to progress to the senior elite level. Approximately $50,000 a year is allocated to 70 athletes across 25 sports. The Country Athlete Program assists junior athletes aged 13 to 18 years from rural areas permanently residing 130 kilometres or more from the Adelaide GPO. Approximately $25,000 a year is allocated to this program to 25 country athletes.

Mr WHETSTONE: Minister, the government allocated $250,000 in the 2012-13 state budget for a feasibility study into the relocating of SASI facilities to Santos Stadium. Can you confirm whether this study has been undertaken and what the outcomes were of that study?

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: Yes, we did the feasibility study with the former federal Labor government and we had an announcement out of them that they were willing to pay for the line share of that development. However, with the change of government towards the end of last year, the new federal government did not see that as a priority and so they have refused to fund it.

Mr WHETSTONE: What assistance will you be giving to SASI to improve their facilities at Kidman Park?

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: What we would like to do is see SASI move to the new location of the Santos Stadium at Mile End. We will need federal funding to do it, so we will keep pushing away and trying to get the support of the federal government.

Mr WHETSTONE: If you do not act upon the feasibility study soon at a cost of $250,000, for how long will it remain viable?

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: It is still viable. It was a good study and we have plans and designs of what we would like to see there. We would not only have SASI moving in there, but a centre of excellence for Paralympic athletes and other sports as well; it would be a terrific thing to do. You have to spend money to come up with a feasibility study, but unfortunately you need a whole lot more money to build it. Without federal government support it is a bit much of an ask for us at the moment, but we will keep it on the agenda at the federal level.

Mr WHETSTONE: Minister, obviously nothing stands still for long—sport is always a moving feast. That $250,000 study will not last for long in today's sporting arena requiring new facilities, new techniques, new technology, new grounds, new surfaces and the like.

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: You get on to your federal mates and ask them to come up with the money as soon as they can and we will be able to do it to the letter of the feasibility study. We would love to see your support for it.

Mr WHETSTONE: I think that is your job; you are in government.

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: We are doing it.

Mr WHETSTONE: Has the state government provided any financial support to the South Australian athletes to attend and perform at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow this year and also the Paralympic Games coming up in 2016?

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: In terms of the scholarships, I mentioned that in my last answer. We also provide a great deal of money to assist in the preparation of athletes from South Australia to get along to Commonwealth Games, Paralympic and Olympic competitions.

Mr WHETSTONE: What sort of support do you give them?

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: There are about 40 different athletes, and there is no 'one size fits all' for each of those. If you want us to come back with a breakdown of all the athletes we can do that, but we have an overall picture. In addition to the scholarships we have given $480,000 to the South Australian Olympic Council, $110,000 for the Australian Paralympic Committee SA, and $110,000 for the Australian Commonwealth Games Association SA. That is $700,000 in one-off grants for Olympic, Paralympic, and Commonwealth Games appeals.

Ms WORTLEY: My question relates to Budget Paper 4, Volume 3, pages 83 to 85. Minister, can you inform the committee as to the level of investment in the SA Netball Stadium (formerly known as ETSA Park) and also to netball, generally?

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: Since 2002 this government has invested $9.4 million into state netball. This investment supports approximately 68,000 netballers in our community who are participating in organised netball within South Australia. This includes some 26,900 children and 41,100 adults.

South Australian netball teams have experienced significant and inspirational success in recent years, evident in the strong foundations established through local clubs and the netball academy support program. This is funded by the Office for Recreation and Sport through its Sport and Recreation Development and Inclusion Program. A longstanding SASI program has led to great success across the Under 17, Under 19 and Under 21 state teams, the Southern Force in the Australian Netball League, and of course the Adelaide Thunderbirds who were champions last year in the ANZ Championship.

What great role models they are on and off the court for all young women, particularly those who are involved in sport. They are terrific, and we wish our two Thunderbirds representatives in the Australian team all the very best for the Commonwealth Games next week, particularly the captain, Renae Hallinan, who has been a great inspiration to a lot of youngsters. So, we have Rebecca Bulley, Renae Hallinan, Erin Bell and the recently retired Natalie von Bertouch who have represented their country. Much of this investment has been directed towards infrastructure projects. Some of the more significant projects which have been approved since 2002 include:

$1.6 million to Netball SA to assist with delivering its core services to South Australian netballers;

in 2011-12, the Tanunda Tennis Club received $200,000 to assist with the full reconstruction and resurfacing of six multi-use netball and tennis courts;

in 2010-11, the East Torrens District Cricket Club Inc. received $200,000 to assist with the development of six flood-lit multi-use netball and tennis courts at the Campbelltown Memorial Oval; and

in 2003-04, the Port Lincoln Netball Association received $300,000 to assist with the construction of a club room, administration and change room building in conjunction with a new 12-court netball complex, and eight of those 12 courts had lights.

Some of the state government's more recent investments in netball have seen Netball SA receive the following funding from the Office of Recreation and Sport:

$100,000 for system leadership;

$80,000 through an inclusion program for the northern suburbs community netball plan;

$25,000 through the Sport and Recreation Development and Inclusion Program for the netball academies program;

$25,000 for volunteer management program; and

$42,000 as part of the statewide facilities audit.

In the past few years, the South Australian government has invested more than $1.9 million towards the Netball SA Stadium, formerly known as ETSA Park, and to groups based at the facility. The Netball SA Stadium is situated on approximately eight hectares of land and located on the western side of the Adelaide CBD. It is the headquarters for Netball SA and the Adelaide Thunderbirds. The venue was opened 2001 and built at a cost of $11 million. In addition, numerous schools and netball clubs also utilise the venue. The external courts are heavily used during the season and sporting programs are run on a daily basis on the internal courts.

Specifically since 2013-14, the government of South Australia through the Office of Recreation and Sport has provided $1.105 million to netball through 57 successful applications: $660,000 was provided to applicants located at the Netball SA Stadium and the funding was made up of $658,000 as a special purpose grant.

The investment will result in the resurfacing of the 26 outdoor courts down there at Mile End, the replacement of the goalposts and the post protectors across the 26 courts and an upgrading of the lighting for the outdoor courts. I was down there to announce that earlier in the year, and I must say that everyone, from the kids through to their parents, were delighted with that massive investment.

In addition to the $9.4 million, the state government committed a further $880,000 to Netball SA over four years to assist with its stadium debt repayments. The first repayment was made in 2011-12. This support to Netball SA through the provision of annual funding over four years has assisted the sport to pay down its stadium debt payments. This has had a significantly positive impact for the sport and reduced the financial burden and what would have been significant interest costs. The final payment to Netball SA will be made in the 2014-15 financial year.

I really want to congratulate Netball SA for the way they go about their negotiations with government and how they try to seek funding. They always put forward a very good case and they never come out with a crazy ambit claim; they actually go through it methodically and come up with really good courses that, where we can, we are happy to fund.

It is not just here in the metropolitan area. I was delighted to call into Bordertown in early January to hand over a cheque there for, I think, $50,000 for the resurfacing of some courts and putting in an additional court for their competition in the Tatiara league. We also made sure that we delivered some money up at Snowtown so they could resurface courts which they share with the tennis club which had big cracks in them.

All sport is great out in the country regions. It really brings together all the communities from far and wide, and we know that training nights and whenever competition is played over a weekend are the focal point of most country communities.

Ms WORTLEY: Thank you for that response, minister. As a former netballer, coach and umpire, I appreciate the benefits that that will bring to many girls and women in our state.

Mr WHETSTONE: Minister, just back to the Commonwealth Games, the news is that South Australia will put in a bid in 2026. Can you give an indication if you are going to put that bid in, and what does a bid cost to host the games?

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: What we have done is written to the Commonwealth Games Association of Australia. What we know is that in 2018 the Gold Coast will host the Commonwealth Games; we do not know who has got it for 2022 or 2024—

Mr WHETSTONE: For 2026—every four years, minister.

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: Sorry, yes. What we do not know is who has the one in between, but we have asked the Commonwealth Games Association if we could be given the first right of refusal, if you like, on putting our hand up for Adelaide to host the games. What we want to do is do a full economic impact statement.

During the past year, we have had a group of us, including your leader, Steven Marshall (member for Dunstan), join with us, along with people like Rob Gerard from the business community and some former Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games athletes as well, just to have a general look at what the benefits could be for South Australia. We have done an audit of what we think the spend would be on new sporting infrastructure, and we put that at around the $200 million figure. That includes things like a purpose-built indoor sporting facility for sports like volleyball and handball—we are seeing some really big growth in those sorts of sports.

If we could package it all up in a bid for the Commonwealth Games, we think it would be money well spent, not just to host the Commonwealth Games but also for between now and those dates, either 2026 or 2030. We do not know which one we would be able to go for because we do not know who is putting their hand up for the one after the Gold Coast in 2022 and whether anyone else would put up. It might be unlikely that we would have a gap of just one period in between having the Commonwealth Games hosted here in Australia. We want to be prepared, though, if someone is not putting their hand up for 2026, that we could be in a position to have a go at it.

We think we are a perfect size city and we are good at hosting world-class international events. It would be a huge boost for regional South Australia as well. We would have to put an athletics track down inside Adelaide Oval. We would also have to have a warm-up track at Adelaide Oval No. 2. When the games are over, both those would of course have to be removed, and we would probably do Santos up at the same time. So, you would have one at Santos and you could move one to regional South Australia and another one to somewhere like the northern suburbs, where there is a high uptake in athletics.

We would also want to do training camps out in regional South Australia as well because we do have some good sporting facilities that could be utilised, and maybe we would put some money into doing some up in preparation that hockey could go to Port Lincoln, for example. Some of the teams in the lead-up could play some competition, and it would be a great opportunity to see commonwealth athletes go up against each other in warm-up matches.

We know, even from the Olympic Games—and the member for Davenport was the minister at the time—with all that Prepared to Win work that was done. For a few years in the lead-up to Sydney hosting the Olympics in 2000, we had teams out here from Russia, Japan and several other countries who were using the velodrome and the hockey pitch.

There are always a lot of lead-up events as well that you can attract here. We think there are a lot of positives in terms of the benefits we get in the build-up and also the legacy for five to 10 years later. If you do it well, you also get a real benefit after the games have left.

Mr WHETSTONE: Minister, I guess then that you do not agree with a previous treasurer saying, 'Why would the state invest a serious amount of money into a second-grade sports event?'

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: No, I do not agree with him, but there were a few things we did not agree on, so the Commonwealth Games is just one of them. We think the economic return is great, and it also says something about who we are as South Australians that we are actually going to go for a big event like this. We are the only mainland capital in Australia that has never hosted the games. We let the Gold Coast get it in 2018 before we had a crack at it. I think there is a bit of pride about the place as well that we should put our hands up for this.

Long term, something we need to work on with the Australian Olympic Committee, the sports federation and the federal government is whether we could maybe join the Asian Games group and see if we could host the Asian Games here, which again would provide us with a huge financial benefit and put us on the map throughout Asia. At the moment, we are in Oceania, so we cannot, but things may change down the track. If we have our city in good nick for a Commonwealth Games, perhaps we could also go for an Asian Games. We want to do bolt-ons as well.

Mr WHETSTONE: Minister, obviously, to host one of those events you will have to undertake an audit of existing facilities in preparation for the Commonwealth Games. Have you done that as yet?

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: Yes, we did. It was just a desktop audit, but we looked at things like, obviously, the Adelaide Oval. It is brand-new and in pristine condition, but we looked at what it would look like in 2026 or 2030. The aquatic centre we have down at Marion is again a fairly new facility. The velodrome is structurally all fine, but you would probably need to put in more seats. We need to come up with other things that are outside the sporting area, which could cost money, but when you talk to the business people like Rob Gerard they see no reason why we could not make money out of it.

There are things like the athletes village. If we are looking at relocating the Women's and Children's Hospital to the new Royal Adelaide site in 2023, that leaves a perfect site there for high-rise residential accommodation that in the interim could be used as an athletes village. I do not think there would be too many athletes villages at a Commonwealth Games or Olympic Games ever that have given the athletes the ability to walk out the front door of the village, walk across the road and walk into the stadium for the opening ceremony.

I just think it is a really exciting period for us. There are so many unknowns in the next 12 to 16 years. We also do not know what is going to happen down on the Coca-Cola site; if they were to move, that could be a site for redevelopment as well we could factor in. In terms of the sporting infrastructure, there are things that we know we need more of, and they have been identified on the desktop audit. Then I guess we need to work out where those would be built, and we will do that in conjunction with the various sports that are involved.

Mr WHETSTONE: Minister, just moving on to Budget Paper 4, Volume 3, page 84, estimated spend results versus actual, can you outline the total cost savings to the government for the transfer and operations of the management of the Hindmarsh Stadium to the Adelaide Entertainments Corporation?

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: Yes, the figure is a $2.6 million expense reduction due to the transfer of Hindmarsh Stadium operations to Adelaide Entertainments Corporation.

Mr WHETSTONE: What links do the Adelaide Entertainments Corporation have to the state government?

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: They are part of the state government, so they come under my tourism portfolio.

Mr WHETSTONE: According to the Budget Statement, page 177, the new management of the Hindmarsh Stadium is a public non-financial corporation. What oversight do you have with the AEC and does the minister approve events run by the corporation at the stadium?

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: I have overall control, I guess, of the Adelaide Entertainments Corporation's group. They have a board and they report to me via the board. They make commercial decisions, so I do not get involved in every decision that is made down there.

Mr WHETSTONE: As part of the Hindmarsh Stadium transfer, the state government relinquished its tenancy or its corporate suite at the stadium?

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: Yes, it did.

Mr WHETSTONE: What was the annual cost of that suite?

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: We do not have an isolated figure on that, and it varied from year to year because of catering costs.

Mr WHETSTONE: Since the transfer of management, what has the government done to ensure all existing sport and community users of the Hindmarsh Stadium have continued?

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: That is probably a question that you should have asked in the tourism estimates inquiry when I had the person here from the Adelaide Entertainments Corporation.

Mr WHETSTONE: When the state government managed the Coopers Stadium, as it is now known, what were the reasons behind its running at an operating loss of half a million dollars per annum?

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: The figure was closer to $400,000 and it was directly related to the money that was used to subsidise Adelaide United's hire fee.

Mr WHETSTONE: As to the future of the Coopers Stadium, the executives have stated that the facility is outdated and needs development or it needs a new build.

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: Again, these questions should have been asked during the tourism portfolio questions, but I am happy to indulge you and let you know that we are spending $4 million down there. We are replacing every seat. We are putting in new facilities, change rooms, a new lift. It is a big spend. If you went down there now, you would see that all the seats have been ripped out, we are steam cleaning all the concrete, all the chewing gum and everything else is going to be off it, and some fantastic new seats are going in.

Mr WHETSTONE: Has the Adelaide Entertainments Corporation approved the Lingerie Football League being held at the Coopers Stadium this year?

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: I do not know.

Mr WHETSTONE: You do not have control over what events are—

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: No, I said at the outset that they have a board in place that makes decisions on those things.

Mr WHETSTONE: So you have had no discussion or you have had no approval process with holding that event at Adelaide?

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: None whatsoever. I have never heard of the Lingerie Netball Team or whatever they are.

Ms DIGANCE: Madam Chair, can I ask a question about stadiums please?

The CHAIR: Yes, you can, member for Elder.

Ms DIGANCE: Minister, I would like to ask you a question to do with Budget Paper 4, Volume 3, and it is to do what was previously known as the Santos Stadium, now SA Athletics Stadium, seeing as we are on stadiums. I am wondering if you can give us some information on what the upgrade to this stadium will include please.

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: I thank the member for Elder for the question. In March 2014, Athletics SA received a special purpose grant of $400,000 to upgrade the existing spectator tiers at the SA Athletics Stadium during 2014-15. Again, it was an announcement that I was down there to make. Sally Pearson was over the hurdles that night. It was a pretty windy night, not the balmiest of March evenings, but we received a very warm reception because we were there with that cheque for $400,000.

The upgrade will provide more suitable services for spectators to view the range of events that the stadium hosts. Additional seating opportunities will be delivered in a range of forms, including an additional 280 seats under an existing shelter, bringing the undercover seating capacity to 1,280 and reducing the gradient of sections of the existing tiers to facilitate deck chairs or similar to be safely positioned.

There will also be the formation of some flat areas for event infrastructure such as marquees and barbecues. The project is in the design and documentation phase. It is envisaged that components of these works will be in place for the hosting of the National All Schools Track and Field Championships, to be held between 5 and 7 December, and the Adelaide Track Classic on 14 February 2015.

Since 2013-14, the government of South Australia, through the Office for Recreation and Sport, has provided $770,658 to the sport of athletics through 53 successful funding applications. A total of $551,000 has been provided to applicants located at the State Athletics Stadium since 2012-13, including 19,000 to the Athletic Association of South Australia Incorporated, through the 2012-13 round of Sport and Recreational Development and Inclusion Program for the Coaching and Officiating Sport and Recreation Development and Inclusion Program; $20,000 to the City to Bay Fun Run Committee Incorporated; and $50,000 to the Athletic Association of South Australia Incorporated.

These funds will provide leadership policies and service information, club promotion, uniforms and sports equipment, and the $400,000 that I referred to earlier is for the upgrade of the stadium. I know, talking to people there, that in the past they thought it was a bit dusty and not that pleasant for people to stand around on the terraces. We have so many different school sports activities there, so it is terrific for the various schools to spread out around the track and have their own little home camps for their athletes and their supporters to congregate and cheer from.

Ms DIGANCE: Minister, I do have another question that leads on from that, because it is a great facility and it does cater for so many different groups and sporting events. In reference to Budget Paper 4, Volume 3, can you talk about what the government is doing to improve the culture of sport and recreation organisations, especially in relation to misbehaviour of some of the players, parents and officials towards referees, umpires and other players?

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: I thank the member for Elder for the question. It is something that has been in the news lately. Thankfully, it is a bit of a minority, but there is still some bad behaviour out and about around sporting clubs and organisations. The government appreciates the impact sport has in the community and the need to support organisations to better manage poor behaviour and develop a culture of respect.

The recently launched Fair Enough campaign was developed in response to disappointing issues occurring at sporting events. Many sport organisations have been seeking assistance to manage behaviour issues and to address the culture of their sports to minimise these concerns in the future. The message of respect and consideration cannot be delivered in an authoritarian way, as research indicates this does not engage the people it is aimed towards. It was determined that this issue should be approached in a way which would gain the attention of the target audience, with a simple and slightly humorous message.

The target group is mainly those behaving badly on the sidelines, often parents. There are also some players demonstrating poor and unsportsperson-like behaviour. The aim was to promote the message that everyone deserves respect. The Fair Enough catch cry is something we envisage will catch on and be considered as a suitable response rather than engaging in abusive or derogatory language.

A set of 30-second videos were produced. The first pilot video produced was for cricket. The game was played at the Adelaide Oval and it was well received by the sell-out crowd. The sports involved received grants to produce a sport-specific video. The sports were: cricket, Australian football, netball, basketball, hockey, baseball, gymnastics and touch football. I have seen these. If a decision does not go the way of an athlete, their lips are shown, and they will be saying 'F—', and you think, 'Hello, what are you going to say here?' And they say, 'F—, fair enough,' so it sort of does get the message through in a slightly humorous way, probably more humorous than I just demonstrated.

A longer educational video was coordinated by the South Australian Cricket Association, and they worked with football, soccer, basketball, gymnastics, swimming, judo, baseball, cricket, hockey, and netball to arrange the filming. A resource which can easily be used by all sports clubs to workshop respecting their game was also developed by the South Australian Cricket Association. Further videos are being produced for volleyball and tennis, and others are being planned to deliver specific inclusion messages. These videos are available on YouTube and have been distributed to sports on USBs.

This program has been designed to complement the support and resources that are available on the Play by the Rules website. Play by the Rules is a resource which is managed by a partnership of all national and state government recreation and sport organisations, as well as all equal opportunity and human rights organisations. Play by the Rules also originated from our own Office for Recreation and Sport before being adopted nationally.

In addition to the videos, the opportunity was also identified to provide the Junior Sport message under the Fair Enough banner. The message, although not original, provides a good message, particularly for parents. A-frame portable poster boards were developed with the Fair Enough and Junior Sport message and distributed following the launch in May 2014. The wording promotes the message that junior sport is a game supported by volunteer coaches and officials who are human, and it is not a national or international competition.

The basic fundamentals of sportsmanship and respect for competitors and officials should prevail. We have seen some of those when you go out to kids' soccer and it says: 'This isn't the A-League. This isn't the World Cup. The coaches are volunteers, the players are just kids and the umpires are human.' It is really good to have those A-frames around just to remind us all that bad behaviour is not tolerated. We know that the thing kids hate the most about sport and one of the reasons they do not enjoy sport is the abuse and the comments that are yelled out from the sidelines.

If we can stop people behaving in a certain way—and it extends to the ride home as well; even parents who get in the car with their kids and want to criticise and pull apart the game they just played. Just remember, they are eight year olds, 10 year olds or 12 year olds, and they are just having fun. If they are having fun, they have got their heart rate up and they are breathing and are out learning skills—not just getting fit but learning leadership skills and learning how to participate in a team—then it is a terrific thing. Some parents need to rein it in a little bit, I think.

All state sport organisations were given an opportunity to order one of the 50 banners the Office for Rec and Sport had available, with wording specific to their sport. Organisations are able to order more at cost if they wish. The electronic poster is available for distribution and has already been made available for some clubs and organisations that have requested it and wish to print their own.

Other support that is provided by the Office for Recreation and Sport includes the Coloured Shirt Campaign, which promotes respect and support for beginner officials and umpires. The Office for Rec and Sport also provides advice and support to organisations when they have difficulty managing an issue. In situations where associations or some of their clubs have been identified as needing assistance due to ongoing concerns, the Office for Recreation and Sport will work with the governing body to improve their proficiency with managing issues and building a change in culture.

For example, support was provided to the Southern Football League in response to the cancellation of their annual junior carnival due to parent behaviour. Working in partnership with the SANFL and the local league, club coaches and officials were engaged in workshops to determine appropriate strategies to build a change in culture, which has created a positive change, with fewer issues right across the league.

Presentations to club representatives on changing club culture have also been delivered in partnership with Salisbury and Charles Sturt councils, individual sports associations and at the Office for Recreation and Sport's annual Starclub club conference. The support and Fair Enough message is delivered statewide with the involvement of the Starclub field officers based in Mount Gambier, Victor Harbor, Murray Bridge, Balaklava, Port Pirie, Port Augusta and Whyalla. I encourage any members of parliament to help us spread the word. I think it is a good community benefit for everyone.

Mr BELL: A very detailed answer there, minister.

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: Thank you.

Mr BELL: I refer to Budget Paper 4, Volume 3, page 84, under Targets, the fourth dot point around the SA VACSWIM program. Can the minister outline changes to the delivery system of the program, what the budget for SA VACSWIM overall is and if there is any extra associated cost to deliver this new system?

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: I thank the member for Mount Gambier for the question. From next summer the state government will fund the delivery of VACSWIM to individual approved organisations across the state.

This will see community organisations benefit from exciting changes to the 2014-15 VACSWIM SA program which will build connections between participants and their local swimming spot. Until now the management of VACSWIM SA has been implemented by a single organisation. These changes will build linkages between participants and existing programs such as surf and swimming clubs, and it is hoped that, by involving the community, children will be encouraged to stay involved in local swimming programs after VACSWIM is completed, which is an excellent outcome for everyone involved.

Up to 14,000 young South Australians will take part in the 2014-15 program, learning valuable water safety and awareness skills. With so many Australian pastimes involving water, it is a fantastic opportunity for children to build their confidence and learn potential life-saving skills in a safe and fun environment. I must say—as the member for Mount Gambier would know Carpenter Rocks very well—even in January the water down there was freezing and when they say a 'fun environment' I do not reckon the rocks were that much fun. Diving in at VACSWIM in about 1975 I still remember the ice freeze on the back of my head.

Mr Bell interjecting:

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: Exactly. However, I am sure we have some nice pools down at Mount Gambier which are a little bit warmer. VACSWIM SA is a South Australian government supported program to provide opportunities for primary school aged children who are aged from five to 13 years to develop a range of skills and positive experiences in the areas of safety, confidence and competence in the water, personal survival activities, basic swimming stroke improvement and aquatic emergency procedures.

The program is conducted each January by qualified instructors in controlled environments located at school pools, public and private pools, beaches and lakes throughout South Australia. VACSWIM 2014 was conducted from 6 to 14 January and delivered by an external contractor engaged through a public tender process, with specific skills in event management and the delivery of water safety programs. The then contractor was the YMCA of South Australia Incorporated. This agreement was extended for a further period of one year after the expiry of the original agreement in June 2013; the new expiry date was June 2014.

The government's contribution of $533,000 per annum in 2012-13 increased under this new agreement to $580,000 for 2013-14. This year 130 locations across regional and metropolitan South Australia were involved in VACSWIM SA, with 12,408 participants. This was a decrease from VACSWIM SA 2013 with 13,413 participants, and in 2012 it was 13,392 participants. The drop in numbers was a concern but justified the work the government has been doing to design and implement a future VACSWIM program to commence in 2015.

A review of VACSWIM SA in 2013 found that VACSWIM SA was increasingly duplicating services which are now widely offered, and it is the government's view that it is now more effective to support the programs in the community by directly funding the organisations which provide them. In response, the Office for Recreation and Sport has established an annual VACSWIM SA funding program which supports the delivery of VACSWIM to approved individual organisations across the state instead of through a single organisation.

Community organisations will benefit from the innovative change to the VACSWIM SA program which will build connections between participants and their local swimming location. Funding is available for up to 14,000 young South Australians aged five to 13 years to take part in the 2014-15 program, learning valuable water safety and awareness skills and giving young people access to these important life lessons.

By engaging with and directly funding existing programs and venue operators we will create an incentive to grow the numbers attending VACSWIM SA at each individual site. The 2014-15 participant fee for VACSWIM SA will remain capped at $30 per child, with a family fee for four or more children remaining capped at $100. It is incredibly good value and a terrific investment which our government sees as vitally important in a state surrounded by so much water which means our kids need to be able to get out of trouble if they find themselves in it.

Children will still receive a minimum 315 minutes of instruction in an approved water safety program. The major change will be that VACSWIM will no longer include higher awards programs and will focus on primary school aged children. Programs for older children may still be accessed external to the VACSWIM program through the Royal Life Saving Society of South Australia and Surf Life Saving SA.

I was looking for a Mount Gambier figure here. I have the Millicent Swimming Lake. I have an attendance target of 131, with 2,384, but I do not have the Mount Gambier figure there by the looks of it. It is terrific that this program is run right around the state, as I said, to keep people safe, particularly up in the member for Chaffey's electorate too, with the river, and we know how quickly that can take people. It is an important initiative that is changing; it is going to be a bit different.

What we were hearing was that people who had existing swimming pools they were operating and running, they had programs in there and all these kids would come in and do VACSWIM and they would not see them again. So, this is a way they can engage with the parents of those students and maybe get them to join a swimming club or to come down for more swimming lessons.

Mr BELL: Another area that is really quite a passion for me is the Active Club Program, Budget Paper 4, Volume 3, page 83. I have two main questions around this, minister; one is the funding ratio for regional areas opposed to metropolitan areas, and the second one is the turnaround time from a club applying for the fund to its being approved and the club receiving that funding. Do you have any figures on that?

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: That particular fund is done electorate by electorate, and it goes up to the Economics and Finance Committee as well. There are 47 electorates, and it roughly works out to about $50,000 per electorate. The number of regional electorates versus the number of metropolitan electorates makes the difference. I know that, from the grants we put out there, there are a lot of grants that come out of other funds that go to regional South Australia.

Mr WHETSTONE: I will just chip in there. You mentioned that obviously there is an average that goes to each electorate. Has there been any consideration for some of the larger regional electorates? Obviously, you would understand that, in my electorate, I have 54 schools—a lot of schools, a lot of clubs.

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: You have not just different clubs but also different leagues within your electorate.

Mr WHETSTONE: Three football leagues.

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: Yes.

Mr WHETSTONE: There are many sports facilities and sports clubs that are spread wide. Is there any discussion, or would you invite any discussion, about some of those electorates that have many sports facilities over a large area being given some form of a concession or some form of added assistance within that structure?

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: I am advised that there was a major review done back in 2012-13 of all the sporting grants and that members of parliament were invited to discuss it as well, and there was no support for a change for that particular existing system. As I said, we will keep an eye out for the other grants, though, to make sure that the regions are getting their fair share as well.

Mr WHETSTONE: Sure. Regarding the full set of grant programs in the department, have funds been increased in line with inflation?

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: There is a small proportion of the Community Recreation and Sport Facilities Program that is indexed, but the rest are not indexed. The upside of that is that it was not indexed this year and they got an extra $4 million. I think that in that first few months of the year we had about $10½ million that we gave out to sporting clubs around the state.

Mr WHETSTONE: Out of the kindness of your heart.

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: Absolutely.

The CHAIR: The member for Elder.

Ms DIGANCE: Thank you, Chair. While we are on the theme of regional questions, the member for Chaffey and the member for Mount Gambier will appreciate this question. My formative years were spent in the Mid North, so my question, minister, is: what is the government doing to support regional sport and recreation or recreation organisations, please? I refer to Budget Paper 4, Volume 3.

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: Is that pages 83 to 85?

Ms DIGANCE: Yes, it is, minister; thank you very much—very astute.

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: I thank the member for Elder for another excellent question. You are right on topic today—coming in and hitting it right on the nail. The state government, through the Office for Recreation and Sport, has made a significant commitment to support community sport and active recreation organisations in regional South Australia. One of the lead strategies towards this commitment is the coordination of the Starclub Field Officer Program.

The Starclub Field Officer Program is a partnership between the Office for Recreation and Sport, regional councils, health services, and community organisations. It primarily supports regional sport and active recreation clubs to help them develop and prosper. A sum of $350,000 is allocated annually in funding through the Sport and Recreation Development and Inclusion Program to support up to seven country regions to conduct a Starclub field officer program between 1 July 2012 and 30 June 2015.

Since July 2012, the Starclub Field Officer Program has closely aligned with the Office for Recreation and Sport's Starclub Club Development Program. This has delivered significant outcomes for the Office for Recreation and Sport and active recreation clubs in regional communities. Starclub field officers are currently working in partnership with individual clubs registered with Starclub, either one on one or by offering extensive training and development opportunities aligned to the 25 Starclub principles.

There are currently six active Starclub field officer regions employing seven Starclub field officers locally. These include: Limestone Coast, Mid North, Murraylands; Southern Fleurieu and Kangaroo Island, Whyalla/Port Augusta, Yorke Peninsula, and Lower Mid North. I should say that there are two Starclub field officers in the Whyalla and Port Augusta area. It is important to note that a seventh region has recently become vacant after a consortium failed to meet funding obligations documented in their signed agreement. As a consequence, the agreement was terminated and they were invoiced to reimburse the funds.

The government gains significantly from having Starclub field officers in regional areas, as it provides an opportunity for the Office for Recreation and Sport and regional councils to work collaboratively to achieve strategic sport and recreation outcomes in those regions. The value of the program is also evidenced by the financial commitment consortiums are willing to make to have access to a Starclub field officer.

There are 28 regional councils and two regional health services which contribute financially and partner with the Office for Recreation and Sport to conduct Starclub field officer programs. This demonstrates strong commitment from local government to work in partnership with the Office for Recreation and Sport to support and develop regional sport and active recreation organisations.

In 2012-13, the Office for Recreation and Sport conducted a comprehensive 360° review of the Starclub Field Officer Program. The review collected stakeholder feedback on expectations and experiences with the Starclub Field Officer program across all regions. The results of the 360° review overwhelmingly supported the Starclub Field Officer Program. Most pleasing of all the results in the review was that all stakeholders, including councils, strongly supported the direction the Starclub Field Officer Program has taken to develop sport and active recreation organisations in regional communities. Sport and active recreation organisations themselves also voiced strong support for the Starclub Field Officer Program.

The Office for Recreation and Sport funding in regional areas in 2013-14 has to date totalled $5.672 million, which includes $350,000 in funding to the field officer program. There have been 168 Active Club Program grants, worth $760,000; 53 grants under the Community Recreation and Sport Facilities Program, totalling $3.089 million; Sport and Recreation Development and Inclusion program, 16 grants totalling $658,000; South Australian Sports Institute individual athlete scholarships, 42 of those totalling $61,550; and I do not see anything in there for the Kongorong Football Club, but as a former Glencoe player—

The Hon. I.F. Evans: Get a plug in there for that!

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: Yes, but please put in a submission for Kongorong; it is a very good club.

The Hon. I.F. EVANS: We need every help we can get.

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: Exactly, and you were a star player for them in the Mid South East Football League. Good luck to them this year because Glencoe is not going to make the finals.

The CHAIR: Do we have another one from the member for Elder?

Ms DIGANCE: No. Thank you minister, I am very happy with that comprehensive answer, and I think those opposite would have appreciated it as well.

Mr WHETSTONE: The minister spent more time answering her questions than he has ours.

The CHAIR: No, I do not think that is true.

Mr WHETSTONE: I refer to Budget Paper 4, Volume 3, page 84, Targets 2014-15. What is the new governance structure under the SA trials network? Is that something new that you were going to establish, or have you not announced it yet, minister?

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: I think you are referring to the trails network, which is existing, but trials would have been new—tribulations not so new.

Mr WHETSTONE: Surely you do not have to read this one out.

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: Here we go: trails management.

Mr BELL: Page 36 to 88.

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: I have page 83 to 85, Budget Paper 4, Volume 3. In June 2013, Horse SA on behalf of trail industry members completed a review of the Draft Recreational Trails Strategy for South Australia 2005-10 and delivered a paper, 'Directions for recreational trails in South Australia'. The paper proposes a shift in the South Australian Trails Coordinating Committee to being an industry-led forum which is supported by the Office for Recreation and Sport and other relevant government agencies.

The Office for Recreation and Sport completed a review in December 2012 to identify sustainable management options for the future operation and management of its trails. These options and recommendations have been developed into a formal implementation paper. The Office for Recreation and Sport has assessed the recommendations in the above work to ensure the objectives align.

The result is an implementation strategy for new governance and leadership and operational structures that align with the current environment and budget. So, just to recap, it is going to be more industry-led that we will fund through the program. Otherwise we have another couple of pages; I could have kept going.

The CHAIR: Member for Mount Gambier, is this your final question perhaps?

Mr BELL: Yes, thank you, Chair, and thank you, minister, for that brief outline. Budget Paper 4, Volume 3, page 83—it is to do with FTEs to June 30 2014. At that time, there were 103.6 FTEs. Can the minister explain why FTEs will be reduced by 15.6 in the forthcoming budget, were these job reductions through TVSPs, what area of the department were they employed in, and how will these savings from these job reductions be spent?

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: Sorry, member for Mount Gambier, can you take us through it, because I am looking at that 2014-15 budget line and it has got 88 full-time equivalents and then it is down to 86.1, which—

Mr BELL: From 83.6, which was budgeted in 2013-14 down to 88 in the forthcoming year, knowing that it did drop in the actual results from 103 to 92.7.

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: Most of those FTEs are as a result of the ministerial office moving across to PIRSA. We have to belong somewhere; we used to belong in one area and now we belong in a different area, so that is the main one. It is also because the Office for Recreation and Sport moved out of the venue management business as well with the Hindmarsh Stadium/Coopers Stadium deal.

Mr BELL: How many of those came across with you?

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: I picked up more. We have an extra couple. Everyone came across and we picked up more, so it is just now getting paid out of the PIRSA budget rather than out of Recreation and Sport.

The CHAIR: We have a final question from the member for Chaffey.

Mr WHETSTONE: Thank you, Madam Chair. I refer to Budget Paper 4, Volume 3, page 85: Activity indicators. Why is the number of consultations with racing and wagering industry organisations being reduced from 40 in 2013-14 to 26 in 2014-15? What is meant by a ‘more structured approach’? How much funding will this restructure save in consultations with the industry, as opposed to 2012-13? Maybe, while you are thinking about it: how many FTEs are dedicated to the racing codes?

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: I am not thinking, I am listening.

Mr WHETSTONE: Come on, you must have it written somewhere.

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: The shift has been to concentrate on the three main peak bodies (Greyhounds, Thoroughbreds, and Harness Racing), rather than be dealing with every single club in each different code.

Mr WHETSTONE: How much funding will this restructure save on consultations with the industry as opposed to 2012-13? What else did I ask? How many FTEs are dedicated to the racing codes with the agency?

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: One person is dedicated to racing.

Mr WHETSTONE: The other question was: how much funding will this restructure save on consultations with the industry as opposed to 2012-13?

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: There is no change to the funding.

Mr WHETSTONE: No change?

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: No.

The CHAIR: There being no further questions, I declare consideration for the proposed payments adjourned until tomorrow, and thank the minister and his advisers for their time here today.

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: Madam Chair, could I quickly just thank people on both sides of the house for the way everyone has conducted themselves today. It has been a terrific estimates hearing—

The CHAIR: Committee A is the happy committee.

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL: —and I would also like to thank the staff in my office who, like all the public officers, have done so much hard work: Ruth Awbery, Kerry Treuel, Marg Ralston, Cathy Parker, Alexandra Keen, David Heath and Kimberly Davis. Thank you.

Sitting suspended from 15:32 to 15:45.