House of Assembly - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1)
2018-07-03 Daily Xml

Contents

Sports Funding

Ms WORTLEY (Torrens) (15:14): My question is to the Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing. When will the government deliver on its promise to match Labor's commitment to deliver change room facilities for women at Gaza Sports and Community Club?

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD (Gibson—Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (15:14): I thank the member for her question. I know there were a lot of commitments made across the election period. We on this side made quite a number and it has been great to be delivering on those. I will have a look at the Gaza one. I also know that some of the female sports facilities grants have previously been given to the organisations or sporting clubs but the facilities haven't been built. So I'm very happy to take that on board and have a look at it.

What I can say, from this side of the house, is that some of the commitments we made to the communities—again, it's the theme of the day and I don't apologise for that—when we were out listening to our communities, it was amazing the number of community sporting clubs that had been run down over the past 16 years. A number of sporting clubs and community clubs needed upgrades desperately—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: —and needed structured upgrades desperately. I know the member for Waite has done a great amount of work in his area, and I spoke last week about the members for King and Newland. They, too, have done an outstanding job in their areas, advocating for their communities. The member for Black—I was going to say Bright, but it is actually Black now; of course, he is also the environment minister—advocates so strongly for his community. I know he was just helping out there the other week. It is fantastic to know that we are delivering for those people in the community, given that—

Ms Hildyard interjecting:

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: I hear the member for Reynell chipping away on the other side, and I know how much people feel let down—

Ms Hildyard: Answer the question.

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: —by the lack of facilities that has been left in our local communities. The member for Colton is another one I look at, and I know the hard work that he did and has done for the Henley Sharks Football Club.

Ms Hildyard: So I guess they're not getting the upgrade, Corey?

The SPEAKER: The member for Reynell is warned.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Lee will not interject. Minister.

Ms Hildyard: A lot of conversations: Gaza, the police. No outcomes, just conversations.

The SPEAKER: The member for Reynell is warned for a second and final time.

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: I was mentioning the wonderful work the member for Colton does in his local area and the facilities that he has now for the Henley Sharks. I know the member for Elder is an absolutely passionate advocate for better community facilities in her electorate as well. These things are paramount to keeping communities going. The community facilities, be they in the city or in the regions, are absolutely paramount.

As the Minister for Sport, the most disappointing thing has probably been that, as I get out into these areas and speak to these local communities about their infrastructure and what they have been left with after 16 years of a Labor government, they really are crying out for more. We are going to do everything we can to help as many clubs and as many communities as we can.

I am going to stand here and be honest to the parliament. Are we going to be able to do something for absolutely everyone next week? No, it's not going to happen, but I tell you what: we are going to do our absolute darndest to make sure that we can get the best facilities for our local community clubs, because community sport and community activation is so important for a growing state, and that’s what we have. Not only are we delivering jobs, not only are we delivering better services, but we are delivering better sporting clubs and communities. It is a big focus of mine and I look forward to delivering on that for South Australia.