Independents for Canberra candidates have announced a significant long-term commitment to community sport in the ACT.

The group’s latest shared policy commitments recognise sport is an essential part of life in Canberra – one that is not currently treated as such by the ACT Government.

Independents for Canberra MLAs will act immediately by establishing a dedicated peak body for community sport within the first six months of being elected. Candidates are also committing to:

• Undertaking a detailed facilities audit; preparing and funding a 10-year strategic plan for the maintenance, improvement, and expansion of facilities in partnership with the sport sector; and providing yearly updates on the delivery of that plan.
  
  
• Introducing a $200 Active Kids sport vouchers scheme to reduce barriers to participation in community sport for children, particularly those facing disadvantage.

Many areas have already been identified as lacking any or adequate sports facilities in Gungahlin, Belconnen, Molonglo Valley, Tuggeranong, Woden, and central Canberra.

“Community sport promotes mental and physical wellbeing, combats loneliness, supports the local economy, and promotes regional tourism” said David Pollard, independent candidate for Yerrabi.

“We don’t have a recognised peak body for community sport, so a grassroots Community Sport Alliance is being relied on to carry that burden.

“We’re hearing that this government has become complacent, failing to support a range of community and professional sporting activities and facilities. In 2024, the Canberra United Women’s A-League Team was at serious risk of closure, despite having produced numerous members of the Australian Matildas Soccer team over its lifetime.

“It took a huge community-driven campaign to force the government to step in and provide a small amount of funding to save the club.

“Facilities maintenance is also an issue. The Gungahlin Eagles consistently have 350+ players using the ovals at Nicholls, including junior and senior players from under 7s up to open age grades. The oval is also used for cricket in the summer.” Mr Pollard said.

“The grounds were remediated recently after being blamed for multiple lower leg injuries, though its condition is still far from good enough.

“The women’s change room is a semi-repurposed storage shed, and the lone toilet is through the men’s change room and next to three urinals. The state of female facilities is detrimental to the game’s growth in the area. This is common across the ACT.

“When I ran as an independent in 2020, Active Kids vouchers were one of my most popular policies. I still receive regular emails and website correspondence asking how families can access the vouchers I championed. Unfortunately, the Labor-Greens government has not seen the value in supporting families to access community sport, and failed to pick up the policy.”

The leader of Independents for Canberra and candidate for Kurrajong, Thomas Emerson, said people in every electorate are struggling to access sporting facilities and programs.

“I run a movement studio, where every day I see the direct positive impact of movement on the physical, mental and emotional health of our community,” Mr Emerson said.

“We talk a lot about the mental health crisis, but we don’t do enough to support initiatives that address root causes. Bringing people together to connect and participate in physical activities is one of the most potent ways to boost mental wellbeing.

“The ACT Government ran a survey in early 2023 about facilities needing maintenance and upgrades, which unearthed almost 100 facilities that warranted attention. We understand the community sport sector hasn’t heard anything from the government since.

“Sporting organisations are crying out for more support to promote the health and social cohesion of our communities.

“The government has gone missing when it comes to community sport, leaving passionate volunteers and part-time staff to pick up the slack. It’s no wonder facilities are left to stagnate.

“It’s not isolated to electorates or sporting codes. The stories David Pollard hears in Gungahlin are consistent with what Vanessa Picker hears in Tuggeranong, and all our candidates in between. 

“We are proud to campaign for Active Kids vouchers in the ACT. As the last jurisdiction without them, it’s time we helped families get their kids into a life of sport.”

Media Contact:
Annie Frisch / ‭‭0410 738 610‬‬ / [email protected]