NEWSLETTER

PRESIDENT 'S MESSAGE

As you are aware the Federal Election is scheduled for later this year. This presents, for the sports industry, an opportunity to consider where we are, the future directions, how we ‘fit’ within the broader social and economic environment and what the priorities are for the industry as we head towards 2020.

With this in mind, the Board and Management at the Confederation have been involved in discussions with members about the upcoming Federal Election and sports position leading into this important event.

National Sporting Organisations can expect to see the Industry Platform for the 2007 Federal Election as prepared by the Confederation of Australian Sport, shortly.  Briefly however it is likely to address several key areas: 

o      Access and equity remain a challenge for this industry.  The Confederation is anxious that progress be made in ensuring that as an industry we provide leadership and outcomes to deliver sport to all Australians.

o      A Healthy Nation proposal.  We are firmly of the view that sport needs to be an important part of the integrated approach to tackling our burgeoning obesity crisis.  The sports industry network is uniquely placed to deliver solutions which can address the issue with some immediacy but at the same time establish good behaviours which will influence life long lifestyle choices made by Australians.

o      Recommendations around the investment in elite sport.  The Confederation holds a strong view that the current investment is insufficient to protect the very strong international reputation Australia has developed for producing the best of the best.  The Confederation will be recommending international benchmarking and investment commensurate with our major international competitors.

o     The facilities crisis will take a prominent position in our platform.  The Confederation believes our local sporting and recreational facilities are general tired and inadequate.  We believe the planning guidelines for new developments threaten the future of local sporting clubs and sport more specifically.   The Confederation believes that it is important that we create spaces in our community that allow us to develop our future sporting champions and live an active healthy life.

o     The changing face of Australia, its people, places and structures require a response from our industry.  We will make recommendations to ensure we deliver a more robust and contemporary sports system.

o     Sport needs to be squarely back on the curriculum in education.   Learning how to play and how to be a member of a team as well as creating a lifelong commitment to physical activity are lessons we surely must be imparting to our children. These are investments in the human capital of our nation.  The Confederation will push for a return of sport and activity to the daily curriculum of schools.

As you may be aware, the Confederation has concluded preliminary meetings with both the Minister for Sport and the Shadow Sports Minister and will continue this dialog right through to the federal election.   It is planned to present the industry policy to both Minister Brandis and Senator Lundy in early June.

The CAS Election Platform on behalf of the sport sector will be released in June and we urge all interested parties to disseminate the platform to members, clubs and associations.  It is important your stakeholders and customers understand we are urging both political parties to invest more directly and in targeted ways in Australian sport.

Michael Sparks

President

Confederation of Australian Sport

  Confederation of Austalian Sport

  240 Currie Street,

  Adelaide SA 5000

  GPO Box 471,

  Adelaide  SA  5000

  Ph: (08) 8202 0000

  Fax: ()8) 8211 6399

  Email: admin@CASevents,com  

AUSTRALIAN SPORT AWARDS

Attracting a national audience, the 2006 Australian Sport Awards 90-minute broadcast went to air on SBS Television at 10.00pm on Wednesday 21 February 2007. Over 600 people attended the Awards at the majestic

This was followed by an impressive double-page Awards Special Feature in The Australian Newspaper the following day.

Both SBS and The Australian assisted with the pre-promotion of the event. The Australian inserted a series of Awards advertisements promoting The Australian Sporting Moment of the Year People’s Choice competition as well as the broadcast.

The publicity following the Awards was significant. In fact, the print, radio and television coverage of the event reached an estimated 9 million Australians.

The National Sporting Organisations also assisted to promote the event with news items on their websites including Netball Australia, Basketball Australia, Cricket Australia, Athletics Australia, Australian Institute of Sport, Football Australia and many more.

CONGRATULATIONS! to all winners and nominees of their respective cateogries.

MEMBERSHIP

Membership of the Confederation is upon us again, the fees are as per last financial year with the inclusion of associate membership to be offered for individuals or approved by the Board in hardship cases. It is proposed that this rate is $220 (inc GST).

• $550 (inc GST) for small sports (with less than 500 members and a turnover of less that 500,000 per annum)

• $990 (inc GST) for large sports (with more than 500 members and a turnover of more that 500,000 per annum)

All National Sporting Organisations and CAS members will receive correspondence from the office in June outlining the package of member benefits for 2007/2008 and an outline of direction and goals to achieve over the coming membership year. Please ensure we are kept up to date with your correct organisational details to ensure the correct information is being forwarded to the right person.

TAX DEDUCTIBILITY OF CHILDREN'S SPORT

As you would have seen through previous email correspondence, CAS has been involved with the State Sporting Federations (together forming the Australian Sports Federation Alliance) with the tax deductibility of children’s sport initiative. In April Queensland Senator Ron Boswell endorsed the concept and issued a challenge to the Government to investigate the proposed tax scheme which would mean a saving of up to $75 per child per financial year for the majority of parents.

Both Senator Boswell’s proposal and the ASFA proposal have called for tax deductibility of up to $250 per child per annum. Senator Boswell and the Nationals continue to push for the change of policy. A number of ALP parliamentarians have directed the matter to Senator Lundy and indicated their support. A number of Liberal parliamentarians have written letters of support to the Treasurer including Mal Brough and Louise Markus.

Senator Boswell said in his speech that an ABS study had revealed “That there is an 88% increase in sporting club subscriptions in 5 years, which does not include new boots, swimmers, goggles, uniforms, ballet shoes, bats, rackets, gloves and protective helmets nor the petrol required to transport children to fixtures”.

Associated with the the tax deductibility CAS has been active with the media and undertook the following interviews with the following media outlets:

• Interview with Canberra Times
• Interview with SBS radio
• Interview with 2SM Sydney and syndicated stations
• Interview with ABC North Queensland
• Interview with 2CC Radio Canberra
• Interview with the producer from Mornings on Channel 10 Television

COST OF JUNIOR SPORT SURVEY

In association with SportINFO, CAS is conducting a survey into the cost of children’s sport by running a pilot study in South Australia.

CAS has contacted all SSO’s in South Australia and has agreement with the Office for Sport and Recreation ED (Dr. Phil Hamdorf) that regional sport and recreation field officers will assist with the compilation of a club database. It is expected that the survey and results will be available by the end of June.

CAS has also written a letter to the Victorian Minister for Sport, James Merlino seeking funding for a similar survey in Victoria.

The survey seeks to ascertain whether the costs of Junior Sport are rising, by how much and where the pressures are coming from.

FEDERAL BUDGET

The announcements of the Federal Budget have highlighted the challenges facing Australian sport more than comprehensively addressing them. CAS was in Canberra for a series of meetings during budget week and met with the Minister for Sport, George Brandis and the Shadow Minister for Sport. A press release was subsequently distributed and all NSO’s were sent copies of the release.

CAS believes there are points to four areas of critical concerns that the Federal budget did not adequately address. These are; the role of sport in an integrated approach to the obesity crisis, new funds for elite programs, the renewal of the countries’ sporting facilities and addressing the recommendations of the Women in Sport Senate Inquiry held in 2006. CAS had an opportunity to impress on both the Government and the opposition the need to work with the sport sector to address these issues.  

FEDERAL ELECTION POLICY

A meeting was held in Sydney with a group of NSO CEOs in April to begin to develop the 2007 Federal Election Platform for sport. A draft platform has been developed with a view to releasing the policy in late June. NSOs and CAS members will be provided an opportunity to submit comment on the proposal before it is released. It is expected that the draft document will be available by the end of next week. 

 CONSULTATION PAPER ON GROUP INSURANCE ARRANGERS

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has recently released a Consultation Paper proposing relief, subject to some conditions, for bodies which arrange group insurance policies, such as sporting and community associations, from the licensing provisions of Chapters 7 and 5C of the Corporations Act.

We would like to bring this paper to your attention as your organisation or some of your members may be affected by these proposals.

If your organisation currently arranges, or is considering arranging, group insurance for your members or prospective members, ASIC is very interested in receiving a submission from your organisation. Your organisation is not required to respond to the Consultation Paper but you may wish to respond, as changes to current policy, if implemented, may affect the way your organisation and your members arrange insurance.

Details of the proposal and the information sought by ASIC are attached and are also are available on ASIC's website at www.asic.gov.au (see IR 07-15 :ASIC consults on relief for some arrangers of group insurance, or call ASIC’s Infoline on 1300 300 630.

Please visit our website for further information.

DCITA REVIEW OF AUSTRALIAN SPORTS COMMISSION ACT 

CAS sent out a questionnaire and letter from CAS president Michael Sparks on 16 May regarding the review of the Australian Sport Commission Act by DCITA. CAS encourages NSOs to either respond to the review directly or submit your feedback so we may collate the responses by the deadline of June 5. The DCITA period for submissions has been very short so we thank those NSO’s that have already submitted feedback, the closing date for feedback was 25 May, however we urge you to either provide feedback directly or please forward any comments asap.

VOLUNTEER SMALL EQUIPMENT GRANTS 

Register and submit an application on-line