CONTACT SPORTS

The Hon. R.L. BROKENSHIRE (15:13): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the leader of government business a question regarding sport.

Leave granted.

The Hon. R.L. BROKENSHIRE: Over the last year or so, there has been quite a lot of comment in the media, both electronic and print, regarding more aggressive attitudes in contact sports within the state, particularly football and rugby. I myself have witnessed what I see as a deterioration involving some serious physical confrontations in football in some of the country leagues, in particular, when I have been watching. In the Labor government's South Australian Labor platform 2009, Labor's commitment regarding recreation and sporting activities (378) states:

Given the legal and justice issues concerning some behaviour associated with organised sport, Labor will support legislative measures that ensure that violence on the sporting ground is treated with the seriousness it merits.

Does this mean that, if it is not on a football field, it would be treated as a serious assault, where people are straight out punching, etc.? Does it indicate that the government intends to bring in legislation to make that a possibility if it is serious enough? What is the intention regarding that particular part of the platform?

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister Assisting the Premier in Public Sector Management) (15:14): I thank the honourable member for his question and I am pleased that he has diligently read the ALP platform. In view of the specifics of the question, I will refer it to my colleague in another place, as to exactly what he has in mind in relation to it. It is an important issue for all of us and, particularly as parents, we are concerned that the level of aggression in sport is contained to a suitable and appropriate level.

It is sometimes said that perhaps some sporting people nowadays are a little bit soft compared with the old days but, as the honourable member is highlighting, we need to make sure that aggression is contained within the rules of the sport and not outside them. It is an important question and I will refer it to my colleague in another place.