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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2024-06-21 Daily Xml
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Estimates Vote

Department for Infrastructure and Transport, $1,167,341,000

Administered Items for the Department for Infrastructure and Transport, $7,946,000


Minister:

Hon. K.A. Hildyard, Minister for Child Protection, Minister for Women and the Prevention of Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing.


Departmental Advisers:

Ms K. Taylor, Chief Executive, Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing.

Mr T. Nicholas, Director, Corporate Strategy and Investment, Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing.

Mr A. Trottman, Director, Infrastructure and Planning, Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing.

Ms K. Faulkner, Director, South Australian Sports Institute, Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing.

Ms M. Wooldridge, Senior Manager, Sector Capability and Partnerships, Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing.


The CHAIR: Welcome, minister, and your advisers to Estimates Committee B. I respectfully acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the traditional owners of this country throughout Australia and their connection to land and community. We pay our respects to them and their cultures and to elders both past and present.

The estimates committees are a relatively informal procedure and, as such, there is no need to stand to ask or answer questions. I understand the minister and the lead speaker for the opposition have agreed an approximate time for the consideration of proposed payments, which will facilitate a change of departmental advisers. Can the minister and lead speaker for the opposition confirm that the timetable for today's proceedings, previously distributed, is accurate?

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: Yes.

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: Yes.

The CHAIR: Changes to committee membership will be notified as they occur. Members should ensure the Chair is provided with a completed request to be discharged form. If the minister undertakes to supply information at a later date, it must be submitted to the Clerk Assistant via the Answers to Questions mailbox no later than Friday 6 September 2024.

I propose to allow both the minister and the lead speaker for the opposition to make opening statements of about 10 minutes each, should they wish. There will be a flexible approach to giving the call for asking questions. A member who is not on the committee may ask a question at the discretion of the Chair.

All questions are to be directed to the minister, not the minister's advisers. The minister may refer questions to advisers for a response. Questions must be based on lines of expenditure in the budget papers and must be identifiable or referenced. Members unable to complete their questions during the proceedings may submit them as questions on notice for inclusion in the assembly Notice Paper.

I remind members that the rules of debate in the house apply in the committee. Consistent with the rules of the house, photography by members from the chamber floor is not permitted while the committee is sitting. Ministers and members may not table documents before the committee; however, documents can be supplied to the Chair for distribution.

The incorporation of material in Hansard is permitted on the same basis as applies in the house; that is, it is purely statistical and limited to one page in length. The committee's examinations will be broadcast in the same manner as sittings of the house, through the IPTV system within Parliament House and online via the parliament website.

I now proceed to open the following lines for examination: the Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing, with the Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing. I declare the proposed payments open for examination. I now call on the minister to make a statement, if she wishes, and also to introduce her advisers.

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: Thank you very much, Mr Chair, and thank you everybody for being here this morning. Can I please introduce our outstanding team from the Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing. On my right is CE Kylie Taylor, who this year reaches a milestone of 30 years in the Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing, which is extraordinary service to our community.

I introduce on my left Tim Nicholas, who is the Director, Corporate Strategy and Investment. Further on my left is Adam Trottman, who is Director, Infrastructure and Planning. Behind me on my left is Megan Wooldridge, who is the Senior Manager, Sector Capability and Partnerships, and on my right is Keren Faulkner, who is the newer Director of the South Australian Sports Institute.

The CHAIR: Thank you. Welcome to everybody. Do you have an opening statement, minister?

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: No, thank you.

The CHAIR: Member for Hartley, I assume you are the lead speaker. Do you have an opening statement?

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: No opening statement from me, sir.

The CHAIR: Okay, we can go straight to questions.

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: Thank you very much. Good morning, all. Good morning, minister. Congratulations, Ms Taylor, on 30 years. Well done. My first question is in reference to Budget Paper 4, Volume 3, page 130, highlights for 2023-24, dot point 2. How many people attended the Power of Her—Women in Leadership symposium?

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: I will say an approximate number: around a thousand, but I think it was just under that. Throughout the day, as happens with these things, although most people stayed for pretty much the entirety of the day, it mostly sat at around about a thousand. It was an extraordinary day. I know that the Hon. Michelle Lensink from this place attended for some of the day. It was absolutely extraordinary.

The Power of Her—Women in Leadership symposium was of course part of our $1.3 million of legacy funding that we announced prior to the commencement of the FIFA Women's World Cup. I am so pleased that we conducted the Power of Her with that funding. It was an absolutely extraordinary event, an event that many people in our community still speak about. It brought together an extraordinarily diverse group of mostly women from many parts of our community, from many different sectors—a diversity of women in terms of cultural background, ages, etc.

We had an extraordinary line-up of speakers and panellists. I think the Power of Her—Women in Leadership symposium absolutely did what we intended it to do, and that was to harness the excitement and the power of the FIFA Women's World Cup in a way that brought women together to explore their power and how they could advance their leadership and make change in their particular sphere of influence. It was absolutely extraordinary.

I think the FIFA Women's World Cup was an extraordinary example of what happens when we see women—the best athletes in the world—being absolutely celebrated and supported for being strong, physical and talented, for being skilful. Seeing them celebrating in that way was transformative in terms of how women are seen, how the roles they can play are seen both in sport and everywhere else. The Power of Her absolutely harnessed that power and, as I said, brought a diversity of women together—those who participate in sport and those who do not—and galvanised this feeling that together, through supporting one another, harnessing one's own power, growing the collective power of women in whatever particular sphere of influence, we really can make change.

The thing that is really important to also note about the Power of Her is that since the Women in Leadership symposium, basically at the demand of the thousand-odd people there, we have continued to hold Power of Her—Women in Leadership events to keep harnessing the power of women, to keep advancing gender equality. We have held a number of events since then, and we are calling them the Power Up series of events. There have been webinars, workshops and events that have continued since the sold-out symposium which, as I said, had about 1,000 people there.

The feedback has been absolutely extraordinary. I do not think I have ever held or participated in an event where the feedback has been that positive. It was absolutely brilliant. The line-up of 25 speakers was unlike anything South Australia has ever seen before, and included the likes of 2023 Australian of the Year Taryn Brumfitt, FIFA Secretary General Madam Fatma Samoura, sporting icon Lauren Jackson, MC's Myf Warhurst and Zan Rowe, and so many more.

It also included panels of business leaders, and I think Andrew Kay from Business SA was part of a panel, together with Melissa Librandi from News Corp. We had a panel of young women who spoke about their experience in sport and beyond. It was absolutely extraordinary.

The other thing to note is that, as well as continuing with the Power Up series of events, in the last few days before the conclusion of the FIFA Women's World Cup we also announced our $18 million Power of Her funding program, a program focused on continuing to advance that legacy that came from the incredibly successful FIFA Women's World Cup. That program, as I know the shadow minister is aware, focuses on growing that legacy through increasing participation, making sure there are more programs and appropriate facilities available that enhance that participation.

Again, the Power of Her—Women in Leadership Symposium was absolutely extraordinary. It was sold out and was attended by around a thousand people. So often still I have conversations—and I know the CE Kylie Taylor does as well—where people come up to you in all sorts of places and talk about the incredible energy of that day and also, really importantly, talk about things that they have advanced or particular acts of courage they have engaged in in their sphere of influence since that incredible day on 8 August 2023.

The CHAIR: Thank you for that fulsome answer, minister.


Membership:

Mrs Pearce substituted for S.E. Andrews.

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: I refer to that engagement, that increased participation of girls and women taking part in sport. If you look at page 132, number of state active recreation sports facilities developed or maintained in terms of performance indicators and targets, one site currently, I suppose, in the government's sight in terms of development is the Magill UniSA land. You have the east side and the west side. Would the minister support part of that master plan development being retained as some sort of sport or football or soccer facility?

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: In terms of the current UniSA campus?

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: Yes.

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: It is my understanding that a consultation process will be undertaken in relation to the land at that site, and I am sure the Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing will put their views forward in that consultation process, as will a number of other agencies and as will, I am sure, your community, shadow minister.

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: Budget Paper 4, Volume 3, page 130, targets 2024-25, dot point 5. What is the current representation of South Australians in selections for Australia in the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic teams?

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: Excellent question. The reason I wanted to consult with our SASI director is that, as I think the shadow minister would be aware, there is still a window of opportunity for selection to both the Paris Olympics and the Paralympic Games, so literally each day there are selections made in particular sports. Just last Friday, the beach volleyball selections were announced, with a South Australian selected in the beach volleyball team in Zachery Schubert.

Also, three of those athletes at that selection, whilst they were not born in South Australia are athletes that we certainly claim, given they have all, really pleasingly, had some relationship with our South Australian Sports Institute, either having trained there for a period of time or resided in South Australia to explore their beach volleyball. That number, as I said, I hope will continue to increase, because there is still a window open for selection.

What I will do is let the member know about some of the incredible South Australian athletes whose selection has already been announced. I am sure the member is aware of some of these and probably knows some of these remarkable athletes. One of those athletes, who was actually on the previous iteration of our South Australian Women in Sport Taskforce, is Jessica Stenson. She competed at the Olympics in Rio in 2016 and she has, which is just remarkable, been selected for her third Olympic Games, where she will race in the women's marathon. Jess is an extraordinary woman. She had her second child, Ellie, in September 2023 and has now been selected for her third Olympics. That is absolutely remarkable.

There is Callum Peters. I am not sure if the shadow minister has had the privilege of meeting Callum Peters. Have you met Callum?

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: I have. He has promised me a boxing session soon.

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: He is just delightful and such an incredible role model. He is absolutely aiming to make history in Paris, aiming to win a gold medal and to make himself the first ever Australian boxer who wins a gold medal at an Olympics. I have met him. I have met some members of his family. He is a Davoren Park local, and he is one of two Aboriginal boxers who have been selected for the Australian team.

Another person I will mention is Angus Hincksman. I know his family well. He is a lovely young man. Angus has defied every single medical expectation to be selected for his debut Paralympic games in the athletics T38 1,500 metres. His determination has seen him absolutely soar on the world stage. He is also a very proud member of our southern community, a member of the Moana Surf Life Saving Club and a member of the Southern Athletic Club, and I wish him all the best. I mentioned Zachary Schubert, who will partner with Thomas Hodges when they play in the Australian men's beach volleyball team, which spectacularly will play underneath the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

The other thing I would say is that I know that we have offered the opportunity for the shadow minister, which I understand you have taken up, to visit our new South Australian Sports Institute, which represents an investment of almost $90 million, with a $20 million contribution from UniSA. I think it is fair to say that the South Australian Sports Institute over its long history has clearly supported and developed and empowered extraordinary South Australian athletes. This new facility will provide that ability to provide similarly that support for generations to come.

The fact that that facility will also house research and teaching facilities through the university and the fact that it sits next to our world-leading national Centre for Sports Aerodynamics, or the wind tunnel, in South Australia absolutely positions that precinct and our state as world-leading in terms of athlete development. I think our current Olympians who hail from South Australia already are testament to, of course, themselves and their remarkable efforts but also what happens at SASI, and I think that will only grow in the future as SASI is completed later this year.

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: I refer to Budget Paper 4, Volume 3, page 130, targets 2024-25, point 5. What is the per capita benchmark for South Australia in selections for the Australian team for the 2024 Paris Olympics and Paralympic teams? What is the per capita benchmark?

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: The per capita target is generally around 7 per cent. I say 'generally', obviously with fluctuations around population, etc., but there has been a tradition, rightly——and I understand this was the case in the previous government as well—of aspiring beyond the per capita target. I understand that that aspirational target for some time has been around 10 per cent.

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: I refer to Budget Paper 4, Volume 3, page 132, performance indicators. Is the minister able to explain why there were 28 less scholarships provided in 2023-24 than there was targeted to be?

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: What I can tell the member is that the number of scholarships always relates to the national categorisation system. When I say that, both the Australian Institute of Sport and any particular national sporting organisation will constantly review and potentially alter categories, meaning that there are different pathways and different disciplines within a particular sport, which could mean there is what they call 'podium potential' in a particular pathway.

Our targets are constantly impacted by that national categorisation system, by both the national sporting body—that might mean Basketball Australia, Tennis Australia, Athletics Australia—and the Australian Institute of Sport. So we cannot always control what our athletes' pathway is. What I can say is that, as those categories change, SASI will then adjust their programs to make sure that any current cohort of athletes can then start to track toward a pathway that aligns with that new national categorisation and therefore—again, as the AIS and the national sporting bodies speak about—against the podium potential.

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: I refer to Budget Paper 3, page 18, regarding vouchers. Is the minister able to provide the estimated number of vouchers to be redeemed by children participating in the music lesson initiative?

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: Can I first of all say that it is absolutely extraordinary, the feedback that both the member for King, as assistant minister, and I have had in relation to our latest sports voucher announcement. I would also say that that feedback has been very strong from the member for Davenport and the member for Torrens, and I think the member for Finniss was also speaking about the particular take-up, if I heard correctly—it was very late on one of the nights that we sat this week—and about which sporting bodies have provided the most vouchers. It has been an extraordinary reception to that announcement.

We made the decision to increase sports vouchers, to double the sports vouchers, and we have made a decision over the past couple years to expand them to Scouts and Guides because we want to make sure that as many children and young people as possible have the opportunity to participate in the sport and the recreation they love. We want it to be the case that they have those opportunities and that cost is not a barrier for families. We also must create those opportunities because it is alarming that, for decades right around Australia, the physical activity levels of young people have been declining. We absolutely have to continue to think about ways to provide opportunities to increase physical activity levels.

We know the lifelong benefits that come with being involved in sport and active recreation. We know there are not just physical benefits but mental and emotional health and wellbeing benefits also, and that many young people experience a really important and lovely sense of belonging to a community family through being involved in sport and recreation. What we also know, however, is that not every young person is drawn to participate in sport and active recreation in the way we think about that. Many are drawn to be involved in music and to explore their creativity.

It is really important that, whatever pursuit a particular child or young person is interested in, there are those opportunities for them to be involved. We know that for many children and young people music is the thing they want to participate in. So we are absolutely focused on making sure that, for those children and young people who want to engage that way, cost is not a barrier, hence why we expanded the sports vouchers to also include music. The benefit of sports vouchers of course also is that we take our children and young people away from screens and get them connected with other people, whether that is dance, whether that is Scouts, playing basketball or playing the violin—we want to create those opportunities.

We have had excellent feedback from community about the inclusion of music lessons. The assistant minister and I made the announcement about the doubling of the vouchers and the expansion to music lessons and participation in music activities at the Cove sporting precinct. We had an extraordinary young woman come along, I think she was 12—Serena—who is a cellist with the Adelaide Youth Symphony Orchestra. She and her dad, who was there—

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: Point of order: I have allowed the minister a bit of opportunity to warm up, a bit of preamble, a bit of background, but the question was pretty specific: it was about the estimated number of vouchers. I ask that you rule on whether the minister should come back to the substance of the question.

The CHAIR: I think there is some strength in the member for Hartley's point of order, and I am sure the minister is coming to the particular point.

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: The thing I will come to is that year on year we have had a record take-up of vouchers and there are a number of things that impact on the take-up of vouchers. The first thing is awareness of the existence of the vouchers, and obviously that has improved over time. When I say awareness, I mean for both families and also providers of particular activities.

Year on year we have had this increase in the take-up of vouchers, the number of providers who are signing on to became providers and to administer the sports vouchers. We have had about a 45 per cent increase in take-up over time, which is a record across activities, but it has taken time from 2015 over the 10 years to get to that take-up. We will focus continuously on raising awareness about the vouchers so that, as it has each year, we keep growing that percentage of take-up.

I am sure that with the inclusion of music we will go through that similar exercise of making sure there is awareness, making sure providers are across how vouchers are to be administered, etc., that everybody is aware of the system and how it works. We will keep working to increase in every area, every activity, the provision of vouchers.

We anticipate that there will be 5,000 to 10,000 perhaps in this first year with the music lessons, but I have absolutely no doubt that, just as has been the case with each of the activities that we have brought on, that will grow year on year. When we included Learn to Swim, over time the take-up of those vouchers increased. When we included dance, over time the take-up of those vouchers increased. It is the same with Scouts and Guides—over time that increased. We anticipate exactly the same thing with music.

What I would say to the shadow minister and, indeed, to all the members here—and I know that a number have already been raising awareness—please, please keep raising awareness with all of the sport and active recreation clubs in your community, with all of the providers of music lessons, with the Scouts and Guides in your community. Please keep raising awareness. It is there. We have made a commitment to provide them. We want as many people as possible to take them up. But there is nothing in the modelling that Rec and Sport have spoken with me about that would indicate that there would not, with those efforts, continue to be that growth in music, just as there has been in the other areas as well.

Mrs PEARCE: I refer to Budget Paper 5, page 51: Netball SA Stadium upgrade. Can the minister provide an update about the government's plan to upgrade the facility at Mile End?

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: I would love to do that. I really want to start by thanking the member for her question and for her really fierce advocacy for sporting clubs within her electorate, the surrounding areas and, indeed, much more broadly. I also want to, given she has asked this question, pay tribute to her longstanding prowess on the netball court. I know she continues to play and to display that extraordinary skill that she has.

Mrs PEARCE: Very kind.

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: It is true. Our government really believes in the importance of sport at a community level, which, week in and week out, supports, as I said before, the mental, emotional and physical health and wellbeing of those who participate, which brings people together and helps people in every corner of our state know that they belong, that they are not alone. In South Australia, more women and girls play netball than any other sport. That figure sits at roughly 35,000 people who enjoy participating in this magnificent sport.

Supporting girls and women in sport means working toward them having the facilities, the programs, the equipment that they need and deserve. Our government is absolutely serious about backing girls and women in sport, and that is why this budget includes an additional $80 million investment, bringing the total investment to $92 million allocated to redevelop the Netball SA Stadium at Mile End. This record investment will see the existing stadium rebuilt with more courts and better seating, providing a better experience for the half a million people who currently go through the doors every year.

All 26 outdoor netball courts will also be upgraded with better shelter, improved lighting and new playing surfaces to support the strong community commitment to netball across South Australia. I think it is fair to say that anybody who has ever been at those courts at Mile End on a weekend, any weekend, or indeed for the enormous country championships, will absolutely know how important this upgrade is in supporting participation.

The indoor part of the new stadium will seat around 3,000 patrons, with an expectation to increase the number of indoor courts from four to eight. The redevelopment will mean that the stadium will also become a multisport facility, really importantly enabling sports like volleyball to have a place to play and to call home, and other court sports, like pickleball, to use this new complex. For volleyball in particular, this will be a really significant moment and a step forward for their sport, as they will also have new state-of-the-art facilities for their members to play the sport they love, and for more people to try this outstanding activity played across the world. Pickleball is now one of the fastest growing sports in the world. In South Australia alone, the number of participants has quadrupled, and this facility will make a real difference to that growing number of people getting involved.

The revitalised, flexible, indoor complex will, I think, also help to attract even more national-level sporting events to South Australia, which is of really important benefit to sport and to our state's economy, our community connection, and reputation as the sporting capital of Australia. The redevelopment will occur in two stages: stage 1 will include the redevelopment of outdoor courts and additional car parking, which is expected to be completed in 2026; and stage 2 will include a rebuild of the indoor stadium, which will commence in 2026 with the aim for it to be completed in late 2027, early 2028.

This redevelopment follows our government's really exciting announcement, in conjunction with Netball Australia and Netball SA last year, that the Adelaide Thunderbirds would move all of their home games to the Adelaide Entertainment Centre, a move that is proving hugely successful, with the team experiencing record membership numbers, even before the commencement of the season and huge success on the court throughout this season. That success, I think we are all really hopeful, will continue as we cheer those excellent women to the end of the season and hopefully towards a home final, which our government and netball also announced last year would be held right here in Adelaide in August. Between six and a half and eight and a half thousand spectators are attending Thunderbirds games currently at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre, and I have no doubt that they will continue to do so.

Our government is committed to running the new Netball SA Stadium through the Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing. A consultation phase on the development will commence soon to ensure that we have all of the right parties around the table, and to ensure that we get this generational incredible development right. I am really proud of the difference that this facility will make for current and future generations of netballers, and so pleased that the revitalised Netball SA Stadium will, of course, sit right next to our new South Australian Sports Institute. I think that, together with the netball stadium, our refurbishment of the Athletics Stadium, and our incredible, world-leading national Centre for Sports Aerodynamics, will make sure that we turn the Mile End precinct into a world-class place for sport.

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: Supplementary: is the minister able to confirm if the CFMEU or any other union has indicated their intent to be involved in industrial matters concerning the Netball SA Stadium upgrade rebuild?

The CHAIR: I will leave that to the minister's discretion, but it sounds to me like this could be in somebody else's portfolio area.

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: Yes.

The CHAIR: You might want to move next door to ask that question.

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: Could you just repeat the actual question?

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: It is supplementary because you are talking about the build. I am just asking is the minister able to confirm if the CFMEU or any other union has indicated their intent to be involved in industrial matters concerning that rebuild.

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: There has been no indication. I think also, just to be clear—I can be really clear that there has been no indication but also, as I think the shadow minister would be aware, DIT certainly manages the building of particular projects, but there has been no indication.

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: I refer to Budget Paper 3, page 18. We were talking about music lessons. Obviously, a lot of music lessons are provided by private tutors and private businesses, so logistically how will that be managed in terms of children redeeming their vouchers?

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: It will be the same as sports vouchers, where providers register with the Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing. The Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing has done an excellent job to make it relatively straightforward for providers to register. Once they are registered, they can make sure that, should a family wish to claim a sports voucher to use for the payment of their particular tuition or other fees, they can do so. Just to perhaps give the shadow minister more context, already, for instance, particularly in dance, there are private providers who register so that sports vouchers can be claimed.

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: I refer to Budget Paper 4, Volume 3, page 132, performance indicators. Can the minister confirm what percentage of eligible children redeemed sports vouchers in 2023-24?

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: It tracks at around 45 per cent. I say around because right now somebody could be logging on and claiming their voucher.

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: I am sure they are.

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: For some time it was sitting at around 40, but there has been an increase to much closer to 45 per cent. That is the highest of any jurisdiction since they have been developed here in South Australia, which is great. It is something we can all be proud of.

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: I refer to Budget Paper 4, Volume 3, page 131, explanation of significant movements. I am just curious: is the minister able to explain why there was a decrease of $3.5 million in the Racing Industry Fund in 2023-24?

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: In relation to this budget item, it is always based, because it has to be, on a careful projection of what gambling revenue will be and of course in predicting what it will be they are careful, looking at particular patterns and trends, etc. So it is always based on that projection and then of course there is the actual that is realised.

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: I refer to Budget Paper 4, Volume 4, page 96, Program 2, sports events. Did the minister attend the 2024 LIV Golf event?

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: That is a good question. On the Sunday afternoon—I just cannot remember the date that Sunday was—for about an hour or so, my husband and another friend and I went. We went in the general admission.

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: I refer to Budget Paper 4, Volume 3, page 132, explanation of significant movements. Can the minister outline the rationale as to the increase in contribution for the FIFA Women's World Cup Legacy Grants?

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: Can I first of all say that, as I said in relation to your very first question, I am incredibly proud of the Power of Her legacy grant program. It is absolutely about harnessing the legacy of the FIFA Women's World Cup to make sure that we are providing more opportunities for girls and women to participate in the sport that they love. When I say providing more opportunities, we know that providing more opportunities means that we need to give them better access to equipment, to programs, to facilities, and that is exactly what the $18 million Power of Her Infrastructure program is focused on.

I think the member would have noticed when we announced the program and when the program opened. What I can say is it is an $18 million program spread over three years. We wanted to make sure that we were getting those funds to clubs as soon as we possibly could, so we simply made the first tranche of the $18 million a smaller amount and the next two iterations or application rounds will be larger. So it was just really a timing issue. It is $18 million in total, as we announced. It is just about timing in terms of how many million dollars are in each of the rounds.

I can also tell the member that there will be another round of the Power of Her infrastructure program opening in the second half of this financial year. Again, I would encourage all members to let the clubs in their local communities know about the applications becoming open and of course, as you always do as local members, to support your local clubs.

It is an extraordinary program not just because, really importantly, it does directly impact that desire that we all share to enable girls and women to equally and actively participate, but it also really does preserve that legacy of the FIFA Women's World Cup. I know that, in all of the conversations with both Football Australia and Football South Australia and indeed FIFA in the lead-up to our hosting of the FIFA Women's World Cup, there were goals that they each had and strategies that they each had to shift gender inequality in the sport and elsewhere and to absolutely leave legacy programs that, in a very, very practical way responded to that desire and to that need, and that is exactly what we are doing with this program.

Sorry, I am just going to go back. I said it would open in the second half of the financial year; it is in the second half of the calendar year, so it will open in these next six months, just so everyone is clear because we want people to apply. We do not want them to miss out.

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: I understand, thank you. I am going to ask one more question before the omnibus questions. I refer to Budget Paper 4, Volume 3, page 131, expenses. Is the minister able to confirm how much funding is budgeted to provide to Gymnastics SA in 2024-25 and provide a breakdown of that funding?

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: When you say Gymnastics SA, what I will first of all say is that, when we came to government, we delivered on an election commitment and invested $6.3 million in total to upgrade both The Hub Gymnastics Club in the member for Davenport's electorate—I know the member for Davenport is a great supporter of The Hub Gymnastics Club—and there was also an investment within that $6.3 million made to the Tea Tree Gully gymnastics club.

Both of those clubs are hugely successful. I know Emma Murray, who is a driving force at The Hub Gymnastics Club, is ecstatic about the development that is happening. She is really eager to make sure that through that development even more young people in the south are able to participate in gymnastics. I thank Emma and the many other people at the hub, and, indeed, the many leaders at the Tea Tree Gully gymnastics club who provide gymnastic activities to young people in that community in the north-east.

The Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing has also worked, and is working, really closely with Gymnastics SA on the development of their business case for a state centre, a home for gymnastics. I can confidently say that all the people here at this table with me are working really hard and are having ongoing important discussions with Gymnastics SA about possible locations to be explored.

In recent conversations more potential locations have been identified and, together with Gymnastics SA, in this coming financial year of 2024-25 the feasibility of those locations will be tested. Again, on the basis of the testing and exploration of possible locations, the business case they have been collaboratively working on will be further advanced and put forward for investment consideration.

Ms PRATT: These are the estimates committee omnibus questions:

1. For each department and agency reporting to the minister, how many executive appointments have been made since 1 July 2023 and what is the annual salary and total employment cost for each position?

2. For each department and agency reporting to the minister, how many executive positions have been abolished since 1 July 2023 and what was the annual salary and total employment cost for each position?

3. For each department and agency reporting to the minister, what has been the total cost of executive position terminations since 1 July 2023?

4. For each department and agency reporting to the minister, will the minister provide a breakdown of expenditure on consultants and contractors with a total estimated cost above $10,000 engaged since 1 July 2023, listing the name of the consultant, contractor or service supplier, the method of appointment, the reason for the engagement and the estimated total cost of the work?

5. For each department and agency reporting to the minister, will the minister provide an estimate of the total cost to be incurred in 2024-25 for consultants and contractors, and for each case in which a consultant or contractor has already been engaged at a total estimated cost above $10,000, the name of the consultant or contractor, the method of appointment, the reason for the engagement and the total estimated cost?

6. For each department or agency reporting to the minister, how many surplus employees are there in June 2024, and for each surplus employee, what is the title or classification of the position and the total annual employment cost?

7. For each department and agency reporting to the minister, what is the number of executive staff to be cut to meet the government's commitment to reduce spending on the employment of executive staff and, for each position to be cut, its classification, total remuneration cost and the date by which the position will be cut?

8. For each department and agency reporting to the minister:

What savings targets have been set for 2024-25 and each year of the forward estimates;

What is the estimated FTE impact of these measures?

9. For each department and agency reporting to the minister:

What was the actual FTE count at June 2024 and what is the projected actual FTE account for the end of each year of the forward estimates;

What is the budgeted total employment cost for each year of the forward estimates; and

How many targeted voluntary separation packages are estimated to be required to meet budget targets over the forward estimates and what is their estimated cost?

10. For each department and agency reporting to the minister, how much is budgeted to be spent on goods and services for 2024-25 and for each year of the forward estimates?

11. For each department and agency reporting to the minister, how many FTEs are budgeted to provide communication and promotion activities in 2024-25 and each year of the forward estimates and what is their estimated employment cost?

12. For each department and agency reporting to the minister, what is the total budgeted cost of government-paid advertising, including campaigns, across all mediums in 2024-25?

13. For each department and agency reporting to the minister, please provide for each individual investing expenditure project administered, the name, total estimated expenditure, actual expenditure incurred to June 2023 and budgeted expenditure for 2024-25, 2025-26 and 2026-27?

14. For each grant program or fund the minister is responsible for, please provide the following information for the 2024-25, 2025-26 and 2026-27 financial years:

Name of the program or fund;

The purpose of the program or fund;

Budgeted payments into the program or fund;

Budgeted expenditure from the program or fund; and

Details, including the value and beneficiary, or any commitments already made to be funded from the program or fund.

15. For each department and agency reporting to the minister:

Is the agency confident that you will meet your expenditure targets in 2024-25?

Have any budget decisions been made between the delivery of the budget on 6 June 2024 and today that might impact on the numbers presented in the budget papers which we are examining today?

Are you expecting any reallocations across your agencies' budget lines during 2024-25; if so, what is the nature of the reallocation?

16. For each department and agency reporting to the minister:

What South Australian businesses will be used in procurement for your agencies in 2024-25?

What percentage of total procurement spend for your agency does this represent?

How does this compare to last year?

17. What protocols and monitoring systems has the department implemented to ensure that the productivity, efficiency and quality of service delivery is maintained while employees work from home?

18. What percentage of your department's budget has been allocated for the management of remote work infrastructure, including digital tools, cybersecurity, and support services, and how does this compare with previous years?

19. How many procurements have been undertaken by the department this FY, how many have been awarded to interstate businesses? How many of those were signed off by the CE?

20. How many contractor invoices were paid by the department directly this FY? How many and what percentage were paid within 15 days, and how many and what percentage were paid outside of 15 days?

21. How many and what percentage of staff who undertake procurement activities have undertaken training on participation policies and local industry participants this FY?

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: Before we stop, this group of officials will be leaving, so thank you very much to this extraordinary team at the Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing.

The CHAIR: The allotted time has expired and the examination of the Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing has closed, so I thank you too. The examination of the proposed payments to the Department for Infrastructure and Transport and administered items for that department will be referred to committee A.

Sitting suspended from 10:01 to 10:15.


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