Motions

Clubs SA

Debate resumed.

Ms THOMPSON (Davenport) (12:15): I, too, rise in support of this motion and wish to recognise the efforts of not-for-profit and community clubs right across our state, in particular those in my electorate of Davenport. As my friend the member for Playford rightly moves, Clubs SA has provided the SA clubs industry with more than 100 years of guidance and support, and it is really great that you are here today so that we can tell you how grateful we are and thank you in person.

On a national level, Australia's 6,500 licensed clubs provide more than 140,000 people with solid employment. For many, these opportunities have proven their entry to Australia's workforce, equipping young professionals with skills and experience that they can carry right the way through life. The commitment of Clubs SA and its members is not limited to training and employment opportunities, though. To many, in particular those in our regions, clubs are a lifeblood.

We have heard from the speakers today, and the member for Playford in particular, that these clubs are the lifeblood of our community and the heartbeat of our community, and they certainly are in my electorate of Davenport. They bring people together. It is particularly great to see new residents in communities being able to meet people in these fantastic, warm, cosy environments, where they can come and—as we just heard—enjoy a schnitzel or a beer and get to know their local community. Of course, they also provide critical services and provide our young people with a great place to meet people and to get involved in some healthy activity.

Our surf lifesaving clubs are out there patrolling our beaches, our RSLs provide support networks for veterans and their families, and so many of the clubs are reliant on the support of Clubs SA—one going as far to describe Clubs SA as the big brother that all sporting and community clubs need to have.

On sporting clubs, I was pleased to see eight organisations in my community receive funding through the Office for Rec and Sport's Active Club Program. This year, grants were awarded to Flagstaff Hill Tennis Club, Happy Valley Bowling Club, Hub Netball Club, O'Halloran Hill Tennis Club, Seacombe Tigers Softball Club, Valley Vikings Netball Club, Flinders Ultimate frisbee club and the Happy Valley Football Club. They will use this for new equipment, for the development of coaches, officials and much more.

Of particular importance, though—as I know so many on this side of the house agree—is the use of this funding to advocate for female participation in sport. This can be through the provision of period products, new period-friendly uniforms or menstrual health training for club employees and volunteers—all measures that may seem trivial or insignificant to some, but initiatives that we know will make a real difference when women and girls take to the field.

One other point I would like to touch on is that of liquor licensing and the responsible service of alcohol, where Clubs SA has long proven itself an industry leader. It has freely accessible, comprehensive drug and alcohol policy templates available online, it has installed a commitment to best practice governance and regulation in its values, and provides regular training and advice to its member clubs.

Earlier, I mentioned the Office for Rec and Sport's Active Club Program grants and how they will benefit people and clubs in my community, but I would also like to touch on a few other projects either delivered or underway in Adelaide's south. With the 2024 footy season underway, the Happy Valley Vikings girls' and women's teams have moved into their new change rooms, which were made possible through state government funding and the tireless advocacy of footballers in my community, and particularly female footballers in my community.

The Happy Valley Football Club has also secured funding to replace its ageing goalposts and install backing nets at the Happy Valley Sports Park, which will benefit not just the club but also students at Aberfoyle Park High School and casual users as well. Just around the corner, the Happy Valley Bowling Club has opened its refurbished new toilet block, meaning it is now compliant with disability access standards. While I am aware winter is looming, I am already looking forward to some longer and warmer nights, which brings with it another night owl season.

We invest in these clubs and their facilities because they invest so heavily in our communities. Without the support of Clubs SA, the job of operating a safe and inclusive venue becomes that much harder. Thank you to each of the clubs, the employees and volunteers active in my community, and thank you to Clubs SA for your years of advocacy, guidance and engagement.

Mr FULBROOK (Playford) (12:20): I want to begin by acknowledging our wonderful guests who have made some time to come to hear the members from both sides speak in support of a wonderful organisation. It does send a very loud and almost deafening sentiment when we are in a position to get support from both sides of the chamber for a motion like this. I do hope the people who are behind me—I am sorry I have my back to you—hear it loud and clear how deeply loved and respected our clubs are within our communities from both sides of politics. With that in mind, I am very heartened by some of the contributions by fellow members of the chamber.

Before I do a quick summary, I want to pass on the words of the member for Flinders, who was hoping to speak on this particular bill but had to apologise on the basis that the business prior in the chamber took a little bit longer than we had first anticipated and he had to leave. A few weeks ago, we both spoke about this upcoming motion, and how he deeply wanted to do a whip around of all the clubs in and around his electorate across Eyre Peninsula. I am sorry he could not make that contribution, but I certainly know he had his heart firmly placed within this motion, and it is just the way it is, unfortunately.

Thank you member for Chaffey. I really do appreciate, firstly, your very kind words in regard to the motion but, more importantly, how you have backed this and how you have reiterated some of the points that I brought up earlier, pointing out that the clubs are part of the fabric of South Australia. I would like to say it is part of the tapestry of our great state and we would not be the fantastic place that we are without the clubs. I think everybody in this chamber values our communities, and we know that the heartbeat of these communities probably starts at one of several clubs around the place, so thank you for that.

He pointed out that it is a competitive world, and we should be under no illusions about that. Clubs do have competition out there in pubs and cafes, and while we respect them as well, we want everyone to thrive, and the best way to ensure that that happens is to ensure that they have a solid backbone in the form of Clubs SA making sure that those people at the coalface—many of them volunteers—are given the expertise or the training that they need to thrive. With that in mind, I am very grateful to the member for Chaffey for reiterating those words.

It was also great to hear him do a whip around the grounds of some of the wonderful clubs in the Riverland. As a kid, I made many a trip to the Riverland, particularly around Monash and also Renmark, and I can also speak very highly of the two clubs in those particular towns that he has referred to. I also touch on the fact that while not every club can win, I think they are all winners in terms of the awards for last year. As I said, they add so much. They add value to the people who help participate at the coalface, but also we, as community members, receive all the benefits that we get from our clubs, and we are very grateful that they are part of the substance.

I did like the line in particular where the member for Chaffey is quoted as saying that 'clubs are a great part of the South Australian hospitality landscape'. I take this opportunity to say that I think that needs to be underlined and reiterated from this side of the chamber as well.

Thank you also to the member for Davenport. She brought some very good points to the chamber, which I think are worth bringing up, and I just note the time. She mentioned that 140,000 people across the country work in our clubs. I cannot remember the exact number I quoted in South Australia, but that is well above the standard 7 per cent that we normally allocate proportionately across the country, and I would say that it emphasises how much more reliant we are on our clubs within our community.

They should also be commended—perhaps we should have amended this motion to highlight how they have led the way in female participation—so, with that in mind, I take this opportunity to say thank you, and to commend this motion to the chamber.

Motion carried.