Chapter 1.1: Defining Our National Sports Vision

1.1 The Australian Government, advised by the Australian Sports Commission and in consultation with state and territory governments, should develop a costed national sports policy framework and submit the framework to
the Council of Australian Governments for endorsement.

Government Response

Supported

In a landmark agreement, the Sport and Recreation Ministers’ Council (SRMC) will establish the first National Sport and Active Recreation Policy Framework. The need for Council of Australian Government’s involvement will be considered
by SRMC.

The Framework sets out key priorities in sport and recreation that will guide the development of sport policy, strategy and programs across Australia.

The Australian Government and state and territory governments will align and fund their sport policy, strategy and programs with the Framework.

1.2 The national sport policy framework should include the following:

a) Measurable national objectives and priorities for public funding, including success for high performance and participation with domestic and/or international significance, and capacity to contribute to the Australian Government’s objectives for social inclusion and preventative health.

Government Response

Supported

This recommendation will be addressed by the Sport and Recreation Ministers’ Council as part of the National Sport and Active Recreation Policy Framework.
b) Financial and non-financial strategies to achieve those objectives, including strategies that provide for greater participation.

Government Response

Supported.

The Australian Government supports this approach and notes that Australian governments will align and fund their sport policy, strategy and programs with the Framework.

c) The roles and responsibilities of various levels of government and their agencies in delivering those strategies; including the sport and recreation, health, education, Indigenous and youth portfolios.

Government Response

Supported.

Each jurisdiction will work with their relevant portfolios in implementing the National Sport and Active Recreation Policy Framework.

1.3 The national sport policy framework should be supported by availability of robust data:

a) To ensure maximum effectiveness and efficiency, the Australian Government, in consultation with state and territory governments, should design and fund collections of statistics and other data to inform policy development generally and to assist ongoing evaluation of national sport policy framework strategies.

Government Response

Supported.

A significant body of research is currently commissioned and conducted by government agencies and educational institutions, yet there is no overarching set of priorities to guide research activity. The National Sport and Active Recreation Policy Framework will address the need for research, data collection and evaluation.

The Australian Government will work to ensure that the Framework establishes a national research agenda, engaging the sport and active recreation sector to identify priorities.

b) The Australian Sports Commission should develop a system for collection of participation data from national sporting organisations that is reliable, valid, repeatable and comparable across sports.

Government Response

Supported.

1.4 The Australian Government should ensure that Australia remains at the forefront of the global fight against doping in sport and that Australia’s domestic anti-doping regime reflects world best practice in deterrence, detection and enforcement and incorporates the recommendations of the Panel into the structural and governance arrangements of the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority.

Government Response

Supported.

The Australian Government will continue to implement a tough but fair anti-doping program that integrates deterrence, detection and enforcement to best practice standards, primarily through the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Agency (ASADA). The Australian Government has recently reformed the governance arrangements for ASADA to enhance its response to doping issues.