Legislative Council - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2008-09-10 Daily Xml

Contents

SPORTING FACILITIES

The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS (15:50): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Leader of the Government, representing the Minister for Sport, a question about sporting facilities in South Australia.

Leave granted.

The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS: In recent times Sport SA, a host of sporting bodies in South Australia and, indeed, I myself have been calling for an urgent audit of sporting facilities in this state. Sport SA, the peak representative body for sport in this state, has been particularly vocal about the fact that we are being left behind in terms of the number and quality of facilities. Calls for an audit have increased in the aftermath of the last state budget and directly following the Leader of the Opposition's recent announcement that South Australia should make a bid for the 2018 Commonwealth Games. It goes without saying that we need improved facilities and that we need new facilities. My question is: will the minister work with stakeholders to ensure that an urgent audit is conducted into the state's sporting facilities?

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning, Minister for Small Business) (15:51): I will refer that question to the Minister for Recreation and Sport in another place and bring back a reply. However, I do point out to the honourable member that this government, in the last budget, was particularly generous in relation to some of our key sporting facilities, such as AAMI Stadium and Adelaide Oval, whereby $100 million was provided for upgrading purposes. Also, of course, the other sport is racing, and this government has made significant contributions to enable the racing codes to upgrade their facilities. I will refer the question to the minister in another place.