Legislative Council; General Purpose Standing Committees; Sport and Recreation

The Hon. I. Cohen
The Hon. C. J. S. Lynn
The Hon. E. M. Obeid
The Hon. R. B. Rowland Smith

The Hon. G. M. Harrison, Minister for Sport and Recreation

Department of Sport and Recreation
Mr W. Gillooly, Director-General
Ms C. Bloch, Deputy Director-General, Client Services
Ms M. Spencer, Deputy Director-General, Corporate Services
Ms W. Gillett, Director, Participation
Mr N. Goldspring, Director, Talent Development
Mr P. Keady, Director, Facilities and Events
Mr A. Russell, Director, Operations
Mr J. Cuthbert, Financial Controller

Minister's Staff
Mr D. Howse, Chief of Staff
Ms I. Sheil, Policy Officer

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CHAIR: I declare this Committee open. At this meeting the Committee will examine the proposed expenditure from the Consolidated Fund for the portfolio area of Sport and Recreation. Before the questioning of witnesses commences, I remind Committee members that on 6 June 1997 the Committee authorised the broadcasting of public proceedings. Should it be considered that the broadcasting of these proceedings be discontinued, a member will be required to move a motion accordingly. I advise that the Leader of the Opposition has written to me advising that the Hon. C. J. S. Lynn has been nominated as an alternative member in place of the Hon. Dr Marlene Goldsmith.

Before questions commence, some procedural matters need to be dealt with. While paragraph 7 of the budget estimates reference provides that a member of a Committee and any Minister present to answer questions may have staff present to assist them during the hearing of evidence and may refer to those staff at any time, I remind members’ staff and any other persons that they should take care not to interrupt proceedings and to observe the usual courtesies which apply to a meeting of the House or of a Committee. Where possible, messages for members should be given through the attendant on duty or to the Committee Clerks. I wish to explain what is required by the standing orders of the Legislative Council and also the resolution of the House on 4 June 1998 that the press and public be admitted to proceedings of these Committees. Legislative Council Standing Order 252 provides:

Evidence taken by any Select Committee of the House, and documents presented to such Select Committee which have not been reported to the House, may not, except with the permission of the Committee, be disclosed or published by any Member of such Committee or by any other person.

In reporting the proceedings of this Committee, as with reporting the proceedings of both Houses of Parliament, the media must take responsibility for what they publish or what interpretation is placed on anything that is said before the Committee. In order to accurately complete the Questions and Answers paper, the Committee Clerk requires that members complete and sign the appropriate form when a question is taken or given on notice. For the benefit of members and Hansard, I ask departmental officials to identify themselves by name, position and department or agency before answering each question. The usual allocation of time is 30 minutes each. We have reduced that allocation to 25 minutes so that there can be a morning tea break. Questions will be asked first by Opposition members, then by Government members, followed by crossbench members. I remind Ministers and members that each question is limited to one minute and the reply to four minutes. Are there any questions?

The Hon. R. B. ROWLAND SMITH: I refer to Budget Paper No. 2, page 4-197, line 24, which reads:

Particular emphasis has been placed on ensuring greater access by disadvantaged groups to Departmental programs. This has included the implementation of a new performance-based sports development organisational grant program that requires applicant organisations to include a social justice priority. In the Department’s direct delivery of services, a variety of specialised programs are conducted for people from disadvantaged groups such as the leadership development scholarships awarded to women by the Women in Sport Unit.

By way of criteria, how does the department define a disadvantaged group?

Ms HARRISON: We treat that fairly broadly. In each program that we put in place you may find different disadvantaged groups, but obviously disabled people would fall into a group that has limited access to normal sport and recreational facilities and programs. On a number of occasions people of ethnic origin have had trouble accessing certain programs, and one that comes to mind would be the Swimsafe program. We ran a Swimsafe program last year that particularly targeted Muslim women. Women traditionally have had less access to sporting and recreational facilities. Lower participation rates for women across the board would indicate that they are a disadvantaged group. As each program is developed, we consider what groups in the community should be particularly targeted.

The Hon. R. B. ROWLAND SMITH: How does this criteria determine the status of grant applications within the new performance-based sports development organisational grant program?

Ms HARRISON: I will take that question on notice.

The Hon. R. B. ROWLAND SMITH: Which specific disadvantaged groups have benefited from the program, and which ones will benefit in the 1998-99 fiscal year?

Ms HARRISON: Which program in particular are you referring to? Disadvantaged grouped have benefited from all our programs across the board in the last three years of this Government.

The Hon. R. B. ROWLAND SMITH: Which ones, though? I am seeking clarity.

Ms HARRISON: Disabled sports in particular have benefited enormously from this Government.

The Hon. R. B. ROWLAND SMITH: To what extent?

Ms HARRISON: To a huge extent. We increased funding for disabled sport by more than 400
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per cent over funding by the previous Government and we established the Academy of Sport at Narrabeen as a centre of excellence for disabled sport, which has been extremely well received. We have made great inroads with women’s sport. We established the women’s unit within the Department of Sport and Recreation, which has received some fairly good results. We targeted older people specifically and, of course, we will support the International Year of the Older Person. We believe we have increased participation by older people with such programs as the walking for pleasure program, which is designed to keep older people as active as possible. When this Government came to office there was, from memory, a fee of around $5 to register. We abolished that fee as we felt it was not conducive to encouraging a number of old people to participate, and that has been working as well.

The Hon. R. B. ROWLAND SMITH: Did I understand you to say that you had increased expenditure by 400 per cent compared to funding by the previous Government?

Ms HARRISON: For disabled sport, yes.

The Hon. C. J. S. LYNN: Is their any difference in categorisation between a disadvantaged group and a normal group with special requirements?

Ms HARRISON: As I said earlier, disadvantaged groups would be a fairly loose category. In each program and each grants system you have to consider which groups have been disadvantaged traditionally under those programs and that would vary from program to program.

The Hon. C. J. S. LYNN: Do you feel that you are stigmatising them by branding them as disadvantaged?

Ms HARRISON: No, it would be silly to suggest that we are stigmatising people. We have considered what we need to do to encourage society to be healthier and happier. Young teenage girls are leaving sport at an alarming rate and at the same age are increasingly taking up smoking. We decided that group must be disadvantaged in some way because their problems are far greater than other children at that age, particularly young boys, although they have certain problems also. We decided we would target those girls.

In relation to disadvantaged groups, as a pilot program we took high-profile women into schools in certain areas, including Auburn and Nowra, and ascertained the success of that program. The girls involved in the program said they had been encouraged to return to participating in sport and recreation, with the result that young girls now have higher self-esteem and better health. If you can keep somebody healthy and happy that is a benefit to the whole community. If you are suggesting in some way we have stigmatised those girls because we have targeted them to compete and have active life styles, that is clearly ridiculous.

The Hon. C. J. S. LYNN: Referring to Budget Paper No. 2, page 4-197, to what degree does the inclusion or exclusion of a social justice priority in a grant application determine its outcome? What guidelines are in place to ensure that potential applicants are aware of this criteria for grant applications?

Ms HARRISON: Application forms for the capital assistance program or the regional facilities development program spell out exactly the objectives of the Government. That is just one of many criteria.

The Hon. C. J. S. LYNN: What specific increases made up the 400 per cent increase you referred to earlier?

Ms HARRISON: I would like to take that question on notice, but I can answer it before we leave today.

The Hon. R. B. ROWLAND SMITH: I refer to Budget Paper No. 3, Volume 2, page 623, line item "Operating expenses". What was the quoted cost and the actual cost of the Australian Quality Council review of the Department of Sport and Recreation completed in 1997?

Ms HARRISON: I will take that question on notice.

The Hon. C. J. S. LYNN: Referring to Budget Paper No. 3, Volume 2, page 623, line item "Operating expenses", what was the purpose of the department undertaking the Australian Quality Council review?

Ms HARRISON: I will refer that to my director-general, Bill Gillooly.

Mr GILLOOLY: Approximately 18 months to two years ago the Government advised all departments that they were required to undertake a guided self-assessment under the auspices of the Australian Quality Council. I understand that it was actually an election commitment of the Government. That is basically how the process came into being. I understand that every government agency has been part of the process. In terms of cost, whilst the
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Minister is taking that on notice at the moment, I believe it was approximately $7,000. We will need to check that, but a discount rate was obtained by the Government because of the large number of agencies involved.

The Hon. R. B. ROWLAND SMITH: Referring also to Budget Paper No. 3, Volume 2, page 623, line item "Operating expenses", why were the recommendations of the Australian Quality Council review largely ignored by your department? Do you consider it acceptable that the cost of the review was effectively wasted?

Ms HARRISON: I take great issue with any statement that says we effectively ignored the review.

The Hon. R. B. ROWLAND SMITH: I said "wasted".

Ms HARRISON: You suggested that the department ignored the recommendations and, therefore, wasted the review. We did not ignore the recommendations. Therefore, the review was not wasted. But again I would defer to my Director-General.

Mr GILLOOLY: You have to understand that this review was undertaken about 15 months ago. There were certainly a number of recommendations. We are in the process of implementing those recommendations.

The Hon. C. J. S. LYNN: Referring to the same item on page 623, did you support the implementation of a review of the department by itself without the benefit of anonymity following the receipt of the damning Australian Quality Council review? If so, why did you support it and what steps did you take to determine why the Australian Quality Council review came up with damning results for the department as opposed to the internal non-anonymous review, which found diametrically opposed results?

Ms HARRISON: I will defer to my Director-General again.

Mr GILLOOLY: The initial guided self-assessment was undertaken on an anonymous basis, and all staff who filled in questionnaires did so anonymously. We subsequently conducted a follow-up review, which again was undertaken on an anonymous basis. The only change was that we asked people to identify which part of the department they worked in because performance across the department was a bit like a curate’s egg. In some areas it was very, very high, and in other areas not so high. From a management point of view we tried to identify problem areas because those were the areas we needed to work on to bring those parts of the department up to the same level as other parts of the department.

The Hon. C. J. S. LYNN: I appreciate the explanation, but I asked the Minister why she supported the implementation of the review and what steps she took to determine it.

Ms HARRISON: Quite clearly, this was an internal management exercise undertaken by the department, and I fully support any inquiries the department needs to make and any submissions it eventually makes to me from those inquiries. I will look at them then. My director-general has the right to assess his department’s performance at any time to ensure that we are achieving best practice. If you are suggesting that I should not support my director-general’s internal management techniques and his effort to improve them, I am sorry but again I find that quite ridiculous.

Mr GILLOOLY: I am a great believer in management improvement. I am a great believer in the department achieving best practice on both an Australiawide and international basis. In some areas we do that and in others we do not. Part of achieving management reform is to continually examine aspects of the department’s operations. Sometimes those examinations are conducted externally and sometimes they are conducted internally. One of the issues that came out of the Australian Quality Council guided self-assessment was that communication within the department could be improved. I decided perhaps, foolishly, that I would make known to all staff in the department the outcomes of that particular assessment.

This so-called secret report that has been referred to quite often was issued to 55 cost centre managers in the department, many of whom then had the right to provide to any of their staff. We have endeavoured to improve communication and point out where the problems are. If I was silly to make that available because the information then became publicly available, I still do not resile from that position because I believe staff are entitled to know because we are all working towards better management of the organisation. I would say that it is the same in every other government agency in New South Wales.

The Hon. R. B. ROWLAND SMITH: I refer to Budget Paper No. 2, Volume 2, page 4-197, where it is noted that the department has been involved in the direct delivery of a program called Swimsafe. What is the target audience for Swimsafe, how was that determined, and what was the cost of determining the target audience?

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Ms HARRISON: The role of the department in safety in and around the water revolves primarily around the appropriate attitudes towards water safety, the recognition of dangers and the promotion of water safety survival, and lifesaving skills involving a broad cross-section of the community. As a result, $1 million has been allocated to the Swimsafe program, which is recovered by user charges. This program has been part of the New South Wales Government’s water safety campaign for the past 51 years. Since Swimsafe is a statewide learn-to-swim and water safety education program implemented by the department, the essential thrust of Swimsafe is the development of water confidence, swimming ability and survival skills. The Swimsafe program targets children in the preschool and primary school age category as well as the poor or weak adult swimmer. Initially in January each year the department conducted swimming classes for children of school age at about 330 pools throughout the State. However, the department then expanded the program to include the months of October through to March.

In the expanded program offered to school-age children Swimsafe embraces a specialised approach to the principles of water safety and skill in the water directed towards specific community participants, such as adults, pre-school children, people with disabilities and older children requiring instruction after school. The program is also available to non-government schools during school hours. An average of 60 per cent of participants are able to swim a minimum of 10 metres in a recognised stroke after completing one program. A high client satisfaction level of 92 per cent has been expressed in surveys. Since 1976 more than 1.8 million school-age children have been taught to swim under this program, an impressive contribution towards the safety of our young people, most of whom frequently engage in water-based activities during the summer months. Certificates of performance are provided for all participants in the program, and each certificate lists the skill levels relevant to each age group. All instructors in the program have completed the Austswim training course. This course is the benchmark qualification for swimming instructors in Australia. Extra training has to be undertaken to enable an instructor to teach pre-school children, adults and people with disabilities.

Austswim is a nationally recognised program for teachers of swimming and water safety. The department conducts courses of accreditation designed to improve the quality of teacher education in swimming and water safety thereby increasing the number of qualified teachers available to Swimsafe and other water safety programs. Austswim graduates are given the option to develop further skills and obtain in-depth knowledge by completing extension and specialist programs, including teaching disabled people to swim and working with pre-school children. As well, a commitment to equipping the community with its essential lifesaving skills continues with my department conducting resuscitation courses on behalf of the Royal Lifesaving Society.

Practically orientated programs focus on tuition and certification of mouth-to-mouth and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Course are conducted at venues throughout the State with participants receiving resuscitation certificates after undergoing a practical and theoretical test prior to gaining certification. These courses provide community members with the skills to save lives. It is to be noted that increasing competition in the learn-to-swim market is reflected by a reduction in the overall numbers participating in the department’s program notwithstanding its strengths and sound operating base. There has been, however, an increase in the number of preschool participants.

[Time expired.]

The Hon. C. J. S. LYNN: What market research was undertaken to determine that you were the most appropriate spokesperson for the advertising campaign to achieve the maximum audience awareness of the Swimsafe campaign? If there was no market research undertaken, how did you determine that you were the most appropriate person to do the voice-overs?

Ms HARRISON: We attempt in all cases to limit costs, and I was free.

The Hon. R. B. ROWLAND SMITH: Referring again to line 21, what was the cost of the advertising campaign and how many hours of advertising space was bought? I refer you also to Budget Paper No. 3, Volume 2, page 627, line item "Outputs: Swimsafe program (participant days)". In 1995-96 there were 650,000. That will drop this coming year to 410,000. Can you explain the reason for that?

Ms HARRISON: There are a couple of questions in that, but that is all right. If you had been listening, I just dealt with the Swimsafe participation days, but there is a continued decline because the department is focusing more towards supporting the industry to take on this role itself. And Austswim training is now an industry responsibility. We are still the principal provider in isolated and disadvantaged areas of the State. The other question was about the advertising cost. I will take that question on notice.

The Hon. R. B. ROWLAND SMITH: When you refer to sporting industries, can you indicate what industries you are referring to? If you mean sporting industries away from the department, what are they? Are you referring specifically to schools?

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Mr GILLOOLY: The reference there was actually to the swim training industry, and that industry really is the swim coaches that you will find certainly in most swimming pools throughout the State. That was the reference the Minister was making to the industry.

The Hon. R. B. ROWLAND SMITH: Just the swim coaches in the pools?

Mr GILLOOLY: Yes.

The Hon. R. B. ROWLAND SMITH: What about the schools?

Mr GILLOOLY: Swimming programs are undertaken within the schools as part of the school curriculum. We are certainly not involved in that aspect.

The Hon. R. B. ROWLAND SMITH: I find that rather peculiar because, after all, the department has been responsible over the years for this Swimsafe program and I do not believe it is right that you should lean on the sporting industries. After all, you talk about the attendances of coaches at swimming pools. That is hardly their job; they have to look out for children who may go under and rescue them.

Mr GILLOOLY: This is becoming a bit confused. Swimming coaches have found that learn-to-swim programs are lucrative. In the more populated and more affluent areas a number of swimming coaches now have exclusive rights to a lot of the pools in Sydney. They are Austswim-accredited coaches and they offer the same sort of Swimsafe programs as the department offers and from memory our fees are basically the same, but certainly it is a lucrative part of the industry. As the Minister said previously, an increasing amount of our attention now is drawn to isolated or low-income areas where we endeavour to provide these services, certainly at a fee, but to some extent they are cross-subsidised by the services we provide in more affluent areas. Swimming coaches have found this to be a fairly lucrative source of income and we are not forcing it on them.

The Hon. C. J. S. LYNN: Will you advise whether the Swimsafe campaign was free or whether it was paid for?

Ms HARRISON: There were some production costs and there was a small amount of bought advertising but most of it was free to radio. I have just said I will take that question on notice.

The Hon. C. J. S. LYNN: Given that the campaign was given free air time by radio stations, did you not let the public of New South Wales down by failing to appoint the most effective spokesperson to maximise its impact? Given the part of it that was paid for in the Swimsafe campaign, how can you justify using the Swimsafe campaign as a vehicle for self-promotion?

Ms HARRISON: The interest that we have at all times is to encourage the maximum number of people to learn to swim, to learn about water safety, to understand that when a dam or a river looks quite smooth on the surface it may not be underneath, and to realise that if they have toddlers they have to watch them around water. There are a number of strategies that we have put into place and I will continue to do so to increase the community’s awareness of their need to be safe around water. We have a beautiful country in which everybody loves our waterways and our beaches. They love having a pool, but they have to be careful around water. If I can do anything to increase awareness, to increase safety around pools, I will do so and I will defend any role that I take on in increasing that awareness.

The Hon. C. J. S. LYNN: I appreciate that, but would it not be more effective to have somebody like Dawn Fraser, somebody associated with swimming and water safety, as a community spokesperson rather than yourself?

The Hon. E. M. OBEID: That is your opinion.

The Hon. C. J. S. LYNN: I am asking for the Minister’s opinion.

Ms HARRISON: I have just told you why I have been actively involved in that program. I am very committed to advertising our Swimsafe program and our safety message and I will continue to remain committed and involved. I will also remain committed to reducing the department’s costs as much as possible.

The Hon. C. J. S. LYNN: You do not see any conflict in using your name and position to obtain free publicity?

Ms HARRISON: I do not see that.

CHAIR: Minister, I refer to Budget Paper No. 2, page 4-198. On that page the statement is made that major priorities for 1998-1999 include development of a more co-ordinated sport system for talent development for the New South Wales Institute of Sport and State and national sporting organisations. Will the Minister briefly outline whether regional academies of sport will be part of this support system for talent development, and also the processes that will be used to ensure that the support system for talented athletes is more co-ordinated?

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Ms HARRISON: The short answer is yes. Regional academies of sport will be part of the more co-ordinated support system for talent development for the New South Wales Institute of Sport and State and national sporting organisations. Since 1995-1996 the Government has increased the global budget for regional academies of sport from $240,000 to $860,000 per annum. So that is great news for our Carr Labor Government. My department now supports nine regional academies of sport located at Newcastle, Wollongong, Lismore, Bathurst, Wagga Wagga, Armidale and Cobar. Two others were established last year in the Sydney metropolitan area to service the western Sydney and south-west Sydney areas respectively. They currently operate from my department’s regional offices at Parramatta and Liverpool. The Far West Academy of Sport at Cobar also acts as a subregional office for my department to ensure that more equitable opportunities exist for people living in the remote areas of western New South Wales to participate in sport and recreation, and access its programs and services.

It is the Government’s goal to strengthen the regional academy of sport network in New South Wales by ensuring that their operations are more closely linked with the activities of the department and other major stakeholders in talent development. In doing so, the pathways for talented athletes in selected sports will be clearly defined and will underpin the directions and priorities of the New South Wales Institute of Sport. To develop a more co-ordinated support system for talented athletes the department has consulted with 30 sports, the main operational areas of the department and all the major stakeholders in talent development in New South Wales to gather information for development of a State plan for talent development. The 30 sports consulted included all the major participation sports in New South Wales, Olympic and non-Olympic sports and peak bodies representing athletes with a disability.

The major operational areas that the department consulted included the Sydney in Winter Academies of Sport, sport and recreation centres and regional offices and regional academies of sport. The other major stakeholders in talent development included all the other regional academies of sport, sports hostels and the New South Wales Institute of Sport. The State plan will include a policy framework and strategic plan for talent development in New South Wales. It will outline the roles and responsibilities of each of the major stakeholders involved in the plan’s implementation. The plan will focus on supporting the needs of individual sports to develop their talented athletes and coaches in areas where there is a demonstrated need for support. Primary responsibility for the development of each sport will continue to rest with the sport. As such, the plan will be supported by performance agreements between targeted sports and each of the major stakeholders involved in assisting the particular sport.

There is no doubt that additional funding is required for specific activities and programs to underpin the priorities of the New South Wales Institute of Sport in particular sports and assist the implementation of a State plan for talent development. The department’s principal objective for this year in the area of talent development is to improve the effectiveness of the use of existing resources to increase co-ordination and more effective planning. This will ensure that New South Wales continues to have the most effective talent development network in Australia and in time an athlete development system that is using world’s best practices for the targeted sports.

The Hon. E. M. OBEID: My question relates to asset acquisitions. Budget Paper No. 2, page 4-199, indicates that the asset acquisition program of $3.2 million includes $900,000 for the decontamination of the shotgun range at the Sydney Academy of Sport, which is estimated to cost $3 million. Will you outline the reasons for the Government undertaking this project? What steps are being undertaken by the Department of Sport and Recreation to ensure that the Wakehurst Clay Target Club and the Wakehurst Pistol Club do not lose the site in the future?

Ms HARRISON: Good question, and I suggest that it may be of some interest to the Hon. I. Cohen as well. The Wakehurst Gun Club, now known as the Wakehurst Clay Target Club, and the Wakehurst Pistol Club have both been operating at the Sydney Academy of Sport since the Department of Sport and Recreation took over the site in 1976. In 1996 the department undertook to enclose and soundproof the pistol range at a cost of $500,000. In the course of obtaining approvals for the building works for the enclosure lead pollution was found on the site and the adjacent shotgun range. Construction of the new indoor pistol range is now completed and the lead has been removed under controlled conditions in that part of the pistol range site now covered by the building.

Preliminary findings from the overall site inspection indicated that the shotgun range, together with the remains of the outdoor pistol range, which is approximately 170 metres long by an average of 68 metres wide, is highly polluted. Leaching of lead is occurring to a significant extent. There may be some poisoning of ducks and other water birds, and the water table is very close to the surface. In subsequent
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meetings with the Environmental Protection Authority and the Department of Public Works and Services, the EPA instructed the department to prepare a plan specifically designed to stop lead and other pollutants from leaching into the water table and the marine environment by 31 March 1998. This has been undertaken with the assistance of the Department of Public Works and Services and external consultants.

Initial cost estimates for soil remediation of the site indicated that up to $3 million may be required for cleaning up the soil and approximately $1.1 million for the planning and relocation of the shotgun facilities to another site at the Sydney Academy of Sport. Action has been implemented to determine a final cost for the overall project and to stop the lead and other pollutants from affecting the water table and the local environment. Detailed planning is now under way to undertake the remediation work and to determine the most suitable options for relocating the shotgun range now that funding is available. The Wakehurst Clay Target Club has been informed of the soil contamination problem and the EPA’s directive. It has also agreed to move to an alternate site and to use bismuth, which is a non-toxic shot. As with the new pistol range, the shotgun range will be designed to minimise environmental pollution in the surrounding area. Work is expected to commence before the end of 1998 in respect of soil remediation and shotgun range relocation projects. It is anticipated that the overall project will take three years to complete.

The Hon. E. M. OBEID: My question relates to the New South Wales Institute of Sport. I refer to Budget Paper No. 3, volume 2, page 628, subprogram 66.1.1, line item "NSW Institute of Sport". An amount of $3 million has again been allocated in 1998-99 for the New South Wales Institute of Sport. Will the Minister please advise the members of the Committee of the current status and achievements of the New South Wales Institute of Sport?

Ms HARRISON: Established by this Government in late 1995, the institute became fully operational at Olympic Park, Homebush Bay, during the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Unlike the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra, NSWIS is a non-residential, decentralised organisation. This structure allows athletes to remain in their familiar and supportive home environment without compromising their access to international level coaching and world-class daily training facilities. The institute works with State sporting organisations to co-ordinate high performance and talent development programs throughout the State. Some 680 athletes are currently on scholarships representing 25 different sports. The NSWIS is, by design, not simply a grant organisation. While many athletes have their attendance at national and international competition completely funded, there is no wholesale handing over of large sums of money.

The institute aims to maximise the sporting performance of its scholarship holders and it also offers a wide range of services to complete the personal development of athletes and coaches. The support services available to athletes and coaches include things like career support, education guidance, counselling, personal development, psychology, and sports science testing - many options never previously available to the athletes and certainly not at such an advanced or targeted level. The institute aims to assist in the development of well-rounded and balanced athletes. In partnership with the various State sporting organisations and in line with national and international standards, the NSWIS has developed a sports policy framework to ensure consistency and transparency in the admission of sports to the NSWIS program and the allocation of funding and other resources.

Generally athletes on the institute’s books are representatives on junior or senior national teams who are internationally competitive and, in the case of individual athletes, ranked in the top ten in the world. Many are already well-known to the community, names like: swimmers Ian Thorpe, Grant Robinson, Shelley Taylor-Smith, Natasha Bowron, Simon Cowley, Malcolm Allen, Chris Fydler and Nadine Neumann; track and field athletes Melinda Gainsford-Taylor, Matt Shirvington, Louise McPaul, Andrew Murphy, Debbie Sosimenko and Jane Jamieson; ice skaters Stephen Carr, Danielle McGrath and Joanne Carter; rowers Rebecca Joyce, Bronwyn Roye, Robert Walker, Richard Wearne, David Weightman and Rob Scott; hockey player Alyson Annan, and equestrians Andrew Hoy and Matt Ryan. Of course, there are many more and the institute would like to see all of its athletes become household names, and I think we all have a feeling that that may happen in the next few years.

In accordance with the New South Wales Institute of Sport Act 1995, I am pleased to advise that the institute has presented to me its annual rolling business plan and budget for the 1998-99 financial year. The business plan’s impact is based on the institute’s business drivers outlined in its corporate plan. These business drivers are: athlete performance; Sydney Olympic and Paralympic opportunities; Sporting Centre of Excellence; strategic partnerships; resource allocation and management; and respected profile and prestigious image. The success of these business drivers is measured not only in excellence in service delivery but, more importantly, through the development of performance indicators of accountability and performance. The performance of
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each service delivery area will directly impact on the achievement of the institute’s objectives.

The corporate performance indicators based on the business drivers are the percentage and number of athletes that make national teams from targeted institute sports, squad institute sports and campaign institute sports. The business plan and budget for 1998-99 reinforce the direction of the institute. The institute sees itself not only as the provider of high performance sports programs, but also as the focal point for elite sport in Australia leading up to and beyond the 2000 Olympics.

CHAIR: I would like to ask a question about the regional sport facility program, particularly various regional facilities. I refer to Budget Paper No. 2, page 4-198. In the second paragraph on that page it is indicated that the capital grants program will include an additional $2 million for regional sporting facilities. Will the Minister please outline how these funds will be used to assist in the development of facilities?

Ms HARRISON: This particular program is aimed at extending the range, availability and quality of major sport and recreational facilities throughout New South Wales. The State Government is endeavouring to progressively develop and enhance a network of regional sporting facilities in the State which will meet the needs of talented and high performance athletes as well as the community in general. To this end a further $2 million has been approved for the program in 1998-99.

In addition to this amount, I have already approved funding for the following 18 regional facility projects with a total cost of more than $15 million in the 1997-98 financial year: Tweed Shire Council, $25,000; Waratah-Mayfield Rugby League, $75,000; Blaxland High School, $150,000; Parramatta City Council, $150,000; Kiama council, $100,000; Hurstville District Small Bore Club, $30,000; Ice Skating Club of New South Wales, $300,000; Central Darling Shire Council, $166,000; Greater Taree City Council, $300,000; Coffs Harbour District Hockey, $200,000; Deniliquin Heated Pool Committee, $60,000; Liverpool City Council, $147,000; Wellington Council, $30,000; Hornsby council, $39,000; Lower Clarence Rowing Club, $75,000; Camden and District Netball, $70,000; Blue Mountains City Council, $100,000, and Penrith Sports Stadium, $150,000 - which is a total of $2,167,000.

Applications for the 1998-99 program are currently being finalised by the department. Applications should be available for distribution some time early in the new financial year. The guidelines will provide sporting organisations, local government bodies and other relevant not-for-profit organisations with the information they need to support applications under the program. The construction of new sporting and ancillary facilities will be eligible for consideration for funding, as will the upgrading of existing sporting and ancillary facilities. Private commercial ventures or the straightforward replacement of existing facilities, and operating costs or costs related to facility maintenance will, however, not be eligible for funding. Basically the applicant organisations will need to demonstrate that an advanced stage of planning has been reached and that work on the facility can start within six months of the receipt of the offer of a grant and be completed preferably within eighteen months.

Among other things, we will need to see that the projects have the capacity to include access for talented and high performance athletes as well as all sections of the general community. The applicant organisation must demonstrate a strong commitment to a sound management structure and an acceptable financial management plan, and that the support of the relevant State sporting organisation and the local council has been given. Projects that have been identified in regional sports facility plans or in sport and recreation needs studies will be given a higher priority for funding. Projects that are able to demonstrate the facility development will improve opportunities to attract overseas sport and recreation groups to train and/or compete in New South Wales will also be given a higher priority. Funding will normally be provided on a dollar-for-dollar basis and, except in exceptional circumstances, the maximum grant available through this program will be $300,000. I am anxious to make certain that all sections of the community are aware that this Government is firmly committed to providing, wherever possible, quality sporting and recreational facilities which will support and encourage a healthy lifestyle and provide a safe and secure environment for the people of New South Wales to enjoy.

The Hon. E. M. OBEID: My next question relates to pre-Games training. I refer to Budget Paper No. 2, page 4-198, subheading "Strategic Directions". The third major priority for 1998-99 is "facilitating overseas team visits to both metropolitan and rural New South Wales prior to the 2000 Olympic and Paralympic Games". Will you outline the Government’s progress in this initiative and how it has involved the regional areas of New South Wales?

Ms HARRISON: My Department of Sport and Recreation established the pre-Games training task force in 1996 as a joint venture with the Department of State and Regional Development as well as Tourism New South Wales to maximise the benefits of
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pre-Games training for New South Wales. The Government is also conscious of the need to enable all areas of New South Wales to absorb as much of the Olympic spirit as possible. New South Wales has been very successful nationally in pre-Games training results. Of the 37 Olympic teams in individual sports so far committed to pre-Games training in Australia and New Zealand, 20 will train in New South Wales, 13 in Queensland and one each in South Australia, the Australian Capital Territory, Tasmania and New Zealand. Recent advice from SOCOG indicates that the Victorian Olympic task force is not providing SOCOG with details on pre-Games training arrangements in its State. Numerous rumours are circulating in Olympic and sporting circles regarding the positioning of particular teams in different areas throughout Australia.

New South Wales believes it is better to report on fact rather than relying on rumour with respect to pre-Games training arrangements. In terms of tangible results for regional New South Wales, the Ukraine Olympic team will train in Albury as well as the Finnish athletics team; US and Swiss rowing teams to Maclean; Australian paralympic archery and fencing teams to the Shoalhaven; Korea, Thailand and Swaziland equestrian teams to Lochinvar; the US equestrian team to Scone and the Irish track and field team to Wollongong. Other contracts have been negotiated, with the German and Italian rowing teams going to Penrith; the US and Swiss rowing teams to Maclean; the Great Britain, New Zealand, Italian, American and Portuguese yachting teams to Sydney; and the Belgian track and field team to Sydney.

A number of swimming federations inspected the facilities at Blacktown, Mingara on the central coast and Newcastle after the World Cup in Sydney in February. The US Olympic Administration has contracted with the Bankstown Council to situate their operations in that area. The team administration for Japan has made arrangements with Campbelltown City Council. The Canadian Olympic Administration is currently negotiating with Ryde City Council and Macquarie University for a similar arrangement. This follows a successful visitation by officials from Canada recently. The pre-Games training task force and regional Olympic task forces in the Illawarra and Hunter regions assisted in hosting this delegation to showcase prospective pre-Games training venues. The pre-Games training task force continues to work closely with SOCOG and SPOC particularly in relation to the pre-Games training guide and visits from national Olympic committees and the national Paralympic committees. Through the contacts it is developing with Olympic nations the pre-Games training task force will continue its endeavour to ensure training through the whole of New South Wales, so that the spirit of the Games will be brought to these communities.

The Hon. E. M. OBEID: I have a question on the capital assistance program. I refer to Budget Paper No. 2, page 4-198, where it is indicated that $4 million will be provided towards the capital assistance program to assist in the development of sports and recreation facilities which have a broad community orientation. Will the Minister please outline how these funds will be distributed and give details of assistant programs in relation to the development of these facilities?

Ms HARRISON: These funds have been distributed more fairly than under the former coalition Government. The availability of adequate sporting facilities is essential if the community is to participate in sport and recreation activities. The Government is committed to assisting with the development of these facilities throughout the State, which will have a direct impact on the community’s level of participation in sport. The capital assistance program is one of two major programs used by my department to improve facilities in the community. My department’s capital assistance program will provide a total of $4 million in 1998-99 to develop facilities throughout the State. Application forms and information regarding this program are currently widely available throughout New South Wales

Following an assessment of applications I would expect to announce the successful applicants towards the end of the year. Every endeavour will be made to ensure that distribution of funds is equitable geographically and demographically throughout the State and between the various sporting and recreational activities. The Government believes that the importance of recreation to the community is a high priority. With the assistance of other departments it will be possible to co-ordinate and plan beneficial programs for people in all areas of New South Wales. Local councils are encouraged to formulate proposals to my Department of Sport and Recreation for both the medium- and long-term development of sporting and recreational needs, so that more co-ordinated and effective programs can be implemented.

With the selection of Sydney to host the 2000 Olympic and Paralympic Games there will be an opportunity and an unprecedented focus on sport in New South Wales, particularly the opportunity for New South Wales to host pre-Olympic training programs. There will, of course, be an expectation that the Government will assist with the provision of suitable training venues which will not only meet pre-Games training requirements, but also provide a legacy to regional sport after the Olympics.
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Accordingly, it is imperative that the long-term benefits of all proposed facility development be properly assessed before funding decisions are made. The Government will ensure that proper support is provided towards the development of local sport and recreational facilities and regional standard sport and recreational facilities with priority given to the areas of greatest demonstrated need. Under the capital assistance program of the former Government there was a far greater emphasis on who held the seat than on areas of greatest demonstrated need.

The Hon. E. M. OBEID: My question relates to athlete assistance. Budget Paper No. 3, Volume 2, page 628, subprogram 66.1.1 "Sport and Recreation Development", line item "Grants and subsidies", states that $3 million will be allocated to the operating costs of the New South Wales Institute of Sport in 1998-99. Does the Government’s continuing commitment to the New South Wales Institute of Sport mean that funds will be restricted towards assisting high performance athletes within Olympic sports?

Ms HARRISON: No. The Department of Sport and Recreation will continue to play a key role in the identification and development of talented athletes throughout New South Wales, across a wide range of both Olympic and non-Olympic sports. The establishment of the institute has allowed my department and the Sydney Academy of Sport to focus on supporting the development of talented junior and sub-elite athletes from New South Wales to achieve success in State, national and international competition. The academy will also assist in the development of elite athletes in sports that are not included in the institute’s programs. My department has developed a number of specialist facilities, programs and staffing resources at the Sydney Academy of Sport to achieve this objective. The academy is acknowledged as a world-class residential sports training complex second in Australia at this time only to the Australian Institute of Sport. The academy also conducts an extensive range of broad-based participation and sport development programs.

The academy school programs have the highest occupancy of any sport and recreation centre and provide specialist sports programs in addition to the conventional outdoor education programs. The residential and training facilities of the academy are used year round by a wide range of sporting and community groups. I am pleased to report that work was completed late last year on a new dining and meeting facility for children and others participating in sports and outdoor education programs. The department has employed two well-known elite coaches to conduct various programs to support the athlete development programs conducted by the Sydney Academy of Sport, regional academies of sport and sporting organisations in country areas of New South Wales. Some of the work of those coaches with Melinda Gainsford-Taylor is reported in the Daily Telegraph today. Community sporting organisations in isolated rural areas in particular have welcomed this initiative because it provides them with access to technical support and other services they have not previously been able to access readily through the Sydney Academy of Sport.

The department has established a talent development division within the Department of Sport and Recreation as part of the department’s re-alignment process. This division has overall responsibility for these coaching initiatives and other program initiatives that will be identified in the State plan for talent development that is currently being developed to underpin the programs of the New South Wales Institute of Sport. My department is continuing to work closely with State sporting organisations in administering its athlete support programs. It is also continuing to work very closely with the major stakeholders in talent development throughout the New South Wales regions. The widespread consultation in developing the State plan for talent development is an excellent example of the department’s commitment to good working relations.

In addition to supporting the role of the Sydney Academy of Sport the Government is committed to providing ongoing financial and other support to the network of regional academies of sport throughout the State. The Government’s annual commitment of $660,000 to regional academies, which was mentioned earlier, has enabled my department to proceed with the establishment of new academies to service western Sydney and south-western Sydney areas and the far west area of New South Wales. Exchange programs are conducted with Japan in athletics and Austria in snow skiing to ensure that talented young athletes have exposure to international competition and high level coaching.

My department also has a co-operative agreement with the city of Yokohama in Japan to facilitate the exchange of sports science and sports medicine information. My department is also working closely with SOCOG and State development and tourism, with respect to pre-Olympic training and competition opportunities for athletes in Olympic and non-Olympic sports. The Government has supported the establishment of new sports high schools in the Hunter and the Illawarra for the last three years. I am pleased to report that my department has been working closely with the Department of School Education at both State and regional levels to assist in their establishment.

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The Hon. E. M. OBEID: Minister, I refer to Budget Paper No. 3, Volume 2, page 623. Line item "Expenses - Other operating expenses" shows an allocation of $16.568 million for 1998-99. Of this amount how much will be spent on the department’s data network?

Ms HARRISON: The department has a wide area network, WAN, linking head office with its regional offices, centres, academies, sports house, the New South Wales Institute of Sport, and my ministerial office, a total of 27 locations. The network connections comprise two types of data lines. These are the ISDN, Integrated Services Digital Network, and dial-ups, standard telephone line connections, with semipermanent ISD end lines being the preferred choice of service due to greater speed and fixed cost. The annual cost of the network will be approximately $170,000, which includes a recurrent $155,000 for the data lines and $15,000 for hardware and software maintenance for the network equipment.

[Time expired.]

The Hon. I. COHEN: I refer to Budget Paper No. 3, Volume 2, page 627, line item "Regional sports facilities developed or planned". There is a water quality problem, including blue-green algae, at Lake Ainsworth Sport and Recreation Facility at Lennox Head. Does your department have similar pollution problems in other areas? What investigations are being undertaken to ensure the health and safety of children at these types of facilities?

Ms HARRISON: I will refer that question to my department officer.

Mr RUSSELL: At the Lake Ainsworth centre we work with the Ballina council and the Environment Protection Authority up there to assist in protecting the lake from blue-green algae. The only other problem we had was at Myuna Bay, on Lake Macquarie. We are working with the EPA there as well. We are actually transferring our waste from Myuna Bay to the Eraring power station and obviating any necessity for any run-off into the lake. We do not have any other problems.

Ms HARRISON: Funds are available for those works at Myuna Bay.

Mr RUSSELL: We expect those works to be completed in about two months. We have allocated about $500,000 for this project at Myuna Bay and we expect that to be finished in August this year.

The Hon. I. COHEN: I refer to Budget Paper No. 2, page 4-197. What is the current situation in terms of athletes with a disability gaining access to sports development assistance?

Ms HARRISON: As I said earlier, we are committed to ensuring that the full range of sport and recreation services is accessible to people with a disability. We are pursuing four strategies to ensure that access is effectively achieved. The first of those is the active and able project, a joint initiative between the Department of Sport and Recreation and the New South Wales Motor Accidents Authority. That project aims to ensure the sustainability of sport and recreation programs for people with a disability, particularly as a result of a motor vehicle accident. Some $1,012,500 has been committed to the project by the Motor Accidents Authority and $727,800 by the Department of Sport and Recreation over a three-year period. Five key areas have been identified to be addressed over the next three years and they include educational training, promotion, infrastructure development, program services monitoring and evaluation.

A project co-ordinator for the active and able program is currently being appointed by the department to provide a centralised support system and to prevent duplication of services throughout the State. This project will be overseen by a steering committee consisting of a broad range of government and non-government representatives. Key stakeholders for the joint program activity and partnerships in regional areas will be identified to facilitate a more co-ordinated approach right across the State for this program. The second strategy is the disability strategic plan, which the department has actually prepared in consultation with peak disability bodies to ensure that people with disabilities have fair access to the department’s services. Three key areas for action have been identified under that plan. They are access, employment, and disability specific services. All strategies within the plan have targets and performance measures to assess outcomes and outputs achieved against expected targets.

All the current capital works undertaken at sport and recreation centres have been designed to facilitate access to people with disabilities. The department runs programs at its sport and recreation centres, catering specifically for people with disabilities. We have also conducted an access audit right across our sport and recreation centres and identified modifications to older facilities which are being progressively implemented. All sports receiving government funding are expected to develop programs to assist participation involvement by people with disabilities. The third strategy relates to the Sports Council for the Disabled which we fund. The department was instrumental in creating the Sports Council for the Disabled in 1984. The council
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acts as an umbrella organisation for the development of sport for the disabled in New South Wales, and currently provides assistance to disabled competitors participating in 40 sports. The council also caters particularly well for the needs of the intellectually disabled participating in athletics and swimming.

Funding continues to be provided to assist with the administration costs of the New South Wales Sports Council for the Disabled and funding of $150,000 will be provided to support that council in 1998-99. Apart from that funding assistance the Government provides office accommodation for the council at State sport centres accessible to people with disabilities. The Sports Council for the Disabled works closely in a promotional and educational role with non-disabled sporting organisations, State and local welfare organisations and educational institutions. That council provides a number of services to all its member organisations. Finally, the department itself has provided a number of initiatives to develop the talents of people with disabilities. We have provided $220,000 for elite disabled sport under the elite sports grants scheme.

[Time expired.]

The Hon. I. COHEN: I asked you this question last year. I refer again to Budget Paper No. 2, page 4-197. Has the department undertaken any projects in disability surfing? It has been undertaken on a private basis on the northern peninsula of Sydney, with great results.

Ms HARRISON: I am not aware of the department’s particular involvement in disabled surfing, although I am aware that it is a particularly good program.

The Hon. I. COHEN: I would recommend it, once again. I refer to Budget Paper No. 3, Volume 2, page 628. Has your Government undertaken any projects for facilities for youth offenders and disadvantaged youth in economically and regionally disadvantaged areas? I note that Byron Bay does not have its skateboard facilities yet.

Ms HARRISON: We have undertaken a number of particular pilot programs which have been extraordinarily successful and they have received an increase in this year’s budget. They include among other things midnight basketball, which was particularly successful in areas such as Redfern. As to the skateboard facility at Byron Bay, I am not aware but I will undertake to find out whether it was applied for under regional facilities funding. The department has funded skateboard facilities in other areas and under this round of funding I believe a skateboard facility was funded at Kiama. We realise that those facilities are particularly beneficial to teenage members of the community who love skateboarding. If you want to get young people off the streets you have to give them something to do and it has to be something they want to do. For that reason that skateboard facility was identified as a high priority for the south coast by a number of other stakeholders, including the council and the regional department office. I would be quite pleased to look at a skateboard facility in Byron Bay but it would have to be considered under the regional facilities funding.

The Hon. I. COHEN: Has your department undertaken any expenditure on investigation or inquiry into facilities, particularly in non-competitive or high level sporting facilities that youth in regional areas suggest they would like to be involved in?

Ms HARRISON: Certainly that is one of our social objectives for which I was criticised earlier. We include grant forms and regional facility forms in our capital assistance program. The Government has social objectives and a responsibility not just to look at some of the more high profile sports but to look at a variation on a sport that increases activity, and that would include things like cycle tracks, skate board facilities and even one-third basketball courts. I guess that some competitive teenagers would not like that to be described as a full competitive sport. We look seriously at those facilities in terms of crime prevention and access to facilities for youth that will not cost them anything. One of the problems is that youth sometimes do not access mainstream sport because of the cost. If a one-third basketball court constructed in the corner of a park is free and access is readily available, you get kids off the street doing something that is good for them.

A one-third basketball court was built under the capital assistance program near my home. Since it was built I have never seen it not occupied. Nine times out of 10 it is occupied by, say, 15- to 20-year-olds, which is exactly the target market. The department looks quite seriously at facilities that target youth. One of the problems is that under all these programs demand far outstrips anything we can supply, particularly as the Federal Government pulled out of funding facilities. Some young people do not have access to the corridors of government and they often do not have the level of local government support that perhaps a better funded, better organised community sporting group may have. Unfortunately, under our program you need to have half the funds, but there are areas where kids have got together and raised half the funds; and we have then come to the party and helped them build those facilities.

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The Hon. I. COHEN: I refer again to Budget Paper No. 2, page 4-197. Regarding women’s participation in sport. Does your department focus on non-competitive sports? You mentioned bushwalking and I mentioned yoga. Is there a special role for non-competitive sport to encourage women’s participation in sporting activities?

Ms HARRISON: Yes, that is certainly another avenue for involvement for women. The reason women do not participate to the same level as men is the subject of a never-ending debate. Certainly the ministerial task force for women has come up with strategic directions to address problems with a number of the programs we have put into place to increase the awareness of women and girls for the need to participate. Some of the problems with organised sport include child-minding responsibilities and the regularity of having to attend a competitive sport. Having to be there at a certain time to play the game is a major problem for women.

I mentioned earlier the active girls role model project. One of the strategies also is to try to increase the profile of women in sports in the media. If girls see their role models in the media we might encourage them to be more active. A survey carried out in the country showed that the reporting of women’s sport was not only below that of men’s sport such as football, but it was below horseracing and just above greyhound racing. That is not conducive to encouraging young women to be active. I guess you cannot fix it all overnight. That is why the department has established the women’s unit. Active Australia was actually a Federal Government initiative that we jumped on board with. As we were the only State willing to get involved and put funds into that program, we have now been selected as the lead agency for it. The slogan for active Australia is all about taking exercise regularly not seriously. It is not particularly for women; it is basically for the whole community to become more active.

The Hon. I. COHEN: Does your department have figures for the participation rate of women in aerobics vis-a-vis other sports and also the participation of women in aerobics?

Ms HARRISON: From memory the highest participation rates for women in organised sport was for netball. I have not got my hands on the latest statistics, so I will have to take that on notice.

The Hon. I. COHEN: I refer to Budget Paper No. 3, Volume 2, page 628, subprogram 66.1.1. When will the proposal by South Sydney District Cricket Club and South Sydney Council for a multi-use facility at Bicentennial Park receive necessary funding to assist young people and others in this highly disadvantaged area?

Ms HARRISON: Again, I am not aware of that particular application under regional facilities. I will take that on notice. We received over 200 applications, of which we were able to fund 18. It is quite possible that it was one of those that we could not fund, but I will have to look into that.

The Hon. I. COHEN: I refer to Budget Paper No. 2, page 4-197. Does your department target specific assistance to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities particularly in regional areas regarding sporting opportunities?

Ms HARRISON: As we discussed earlier, in looking at a number of disadvantaged groups that we consider have limited access to mainstream sport and recreational programs and facilities, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have needed special help to encourage them to participate in these programs. We have provided $300,000 per annum for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander sport program. That includes the pathways program, which is increasing opportunities for Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders through education and training support to enter into permanent employment in the sport and recreational industry; and the street beat program to reduce crime through providing an opportunity for youth to participate in an organised and self-determined outlet in sport, develop self-esteem and enjoy a healthy lifestyle.

That program has also been connected with our PCYC program that I spoke about earlier to discourage youth crime. We have connected that to areas where we felt we could target Aboriginal communities to get them involved in sport. There is also the skill-up program, which aims to enhance participation levels in sport and recreation and to encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders to become coaches and administrators capable of developing and implementing their own programs and strategies, to identify and develop potential Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander athletes, and cross-cultural and reconciliation training programs to develop an awareness within my department on issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participation in sport. We fund also a number of specific programs to help encourage Aboriginal participation in sport and recreation. A particular event held at Coffs Harbour has been enormously successful. There they run a drug and alcohol free event, including a concert, based around sporting events to encourage youth to play sport. We have seen that it has been beneficial for the area and beneficial in ongoing involvement in sport by young people, and we have been helping to fund that.

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The Hon. I. COHEN: Does your department produce material on, or fund a campaign into, smoking and sport, using sport to help young people avoid the tendency to smoke and also to inspire them to participate in sport rather than move towards drug abuse?

Ms HARRISON: No, we have not entered into an education process against smoking. I would see that perhaps as being a little outside my portfolio; it is necessary, but it is not in my portfolio.

The Hon. I. COHEN: I refer to Budget Paper No. 3, Volume 2, page 628, subprogram 66.1.1 "Sport and Recreation Development". An amount of $15.99 million has been estimated as revenue from sport and recreation centres. What is the extent of use of these facilities by the community, and what is this Government’s policy on maintenance and upgrading of these centres?

Ms HARRISON: The percentage of their occupancy or percentage of community use?

The Hon. I. COHEN: The extent of usage of these facilities by the community and the Government’s policy on maintenance and upgrading of these centres.

Ms HARRISON: Last year we had a boom with increased revenue and were able to carry out extra maintenance on those facilities. We had a very good year last year.

Mr RUSSELL: We have various programs within the centres. One is the outdoor education program, which is conducted each school term for schoolchildren visiting the centres. Last year we had a total of approximately 200,000 client days or 200,000 days when the children were there, a client day being one person per day or one child per day. We also had vacation programs in which we had 27,836 client days. We had family camps of 16,259 client days, and 6,812 client days by senior adults using our camps. We had weekend community use with 22,119 client days. We had 21,124 client days at self-contained facilities at the centres used by members of the community. The centre facilities were also used by the community on 21,000 client days. We also had sport and training courses. Some 208 courses were conducted at the centres overall. Sport development courses were conducted at the centres and stays by organisations using the centres totalled 3,300 client days. Basically that was the usage of the centres.

Ms HARRISON: I might just add with regard to maintenance and upgrading that we have a policy of constantly upgrading the capital works program. Last year we did a lot of work. Work has now been completed on the new dining and recreation hall at Lake Ainsworth, and a new pool has been built at Milson Island. An amenities block has been constructed for the clients using the new pool at Milson Island as well. Originally the accommodation lodges were to be built at Myuna Bay from the 1997-98 budget, but after the Environment Protection Authority identified the problems there with wastewater, money went to that, but money is now available to build the lodges this year at Myuna Bay. I think we acted fairly responsibly in the transfer of funds to bring forward that project and put the other one back a year. In this financial year a total of $1.2 million has been allocated for cyclic maintenance of the centres, and I think this maintenance program will ensure that centres do not run down and cause us to have expensive refurbishment in the future.

[Short adjournment]

The Hon. C. J. S. LYNN: In response to earlier questions you said you were keen to have Swimsafe reach the maximum audience. Did you make any effort to determine whether there was some other person, for example, a sports star or local sporting hero, who would have more effectively reached the target audience? If you did not do that research how could you say that your voice-overs were not at least partially about self-promotion?

Ms HARRISON: With respect, you are very repetitive. I have answered this question. The announcements provided important water safety information to the community as well as promoting my department’s Swimsafe program, and I felt as Minister I would be the appropriate person to advertise my department’s programs. The intention was to distribute the announcements to radio stations throughout New South Wales in an attempt to get free air play. The announcements were distributed to every radio station across the State, and that included the major metropolitan and regional stations as well as small community radio stations. Under the guidance of corporate relations, regional offices were responsible for distribution, contact and follow-up with local radio stations. Corporation relations dealt with the major Sydney stations. At the end of January, regions were requested to follow up with their local stations on the airplay of the announcements. In most cases an exact figure could not be provided by radio stations, just an estimate, so a station-by-station breakdown was worked out.

The general results were that 107 stations were in a position to air the announcements, and some of those were reading services only. Of these, 66 aired
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the announcements over summer; six stations did not air the announcements; and the remainder did not play the announcements for a number of reasons, including misplacing the advertisement. Corporate relations took the decision to pay for advertising on two Sydney radio stations, SBS and 2WS. The decision to use paid advertising for those two stations was based on the fact that 2WS does not accept pre-recorded community service announcements and that western Sydney was an important target audience. SBS plays nationwide community service announcements only. However, it was considered very important to have the water safety hints playing on SBS as we were also targeting the ethnic community, many of whom we realise often come to Australia and have not had access to Swimsafe. We were trying particularly to target ethnic adults who had come to Australia without swimming skills.

In total it is estimated that the announcements were played a minimum of 5,400 times on New South Wales radio over 10 weeks through December, January and February. On average most stations aired the announcements twice daily. The estimated value of this air time is more than $190,000. The total cost of the exercise in producing, including tape production and courier charges, was $2,500. So we produced those commercials for $2,500 and bought over $190,000 of advertising space for the promotion of what is an important community message. The majority of stations indicated that they would be interested in a similar initiative next year or community service announcements of another nature on sports safety. Whilst the intention of the campaign was simply to raise awareness, as we discussed earlier, it is interesting to note that a number of the regional offices indicated a significant number of public inquiries as a result of the announcements. So it worked, and I think that is the bottom line.

The Hon. C. J. S. LYNN: Will you be doing those announcements again this year?

Ms HARRISON: We will be considering those announcements again, yes.

The Hon. C. J. S. LYNN: I mean you doing your own voice-over.

Ms HARRISON: We will be considering those announcements again. As I said, it has worked, so why wouldn’t I?

The Hon. R. B. ROWLAND SMITH: I refer to Budget Paper No. 3, Volume 2, page 623, line item "Operating expenses". What proportion of the budget for the Department of Sport and Recreation was allocated in 1997-98 to entertain staff and/or overseas sportsmen and sportswomen? What amount will be allocated in 1998-99? Furthermore, who is authorised to make such expenditure, and to whom and on what conditions are credit cards issued for such purposes?

Ms HARRISON: We will take that on notice. The answer that I just gave was actually an answer in part to a previous question that I said I would take on notice. That question has been answered.

The Hon. R. B. ROWLAND SMITH: I refer to Budget Paper No. 3, Volume 2, page 623. How do you justify allowing 50 Department of Sport and Recreation staff to accommodate eight Japanese cyclists who did not speak English at Doyles Restaurant during 1997? Was this according to the guidelines of the department? If so, do you consider that such guidelines are acceptable? What was the total cost to the taxpayer of this Carr Government’s sporting largesse?

Ms HARRISON: So far as I am aware we did not entertain Japanese cyclists.

The Hon. C. J. S. LYNN: I refer to Budget Paper No. 3, Volume 2, page 630, subprogram 66.1.2 Eastern Creek Raceway. Bearing in mind that your program objective is a commercial return on Eastern Creek, can you state for how many months rental payments have been behind since commencement of the lease; the maximum arrears of rental at any one time; the current rental fee per month; whether the rental is currently in arrears; and if so, how much?

Ms HARRISON: To summarise, you lost $135 million. We have leased it out. Their repayments are up-to-date and we are doing much better than you ever did.

The Hon. C. J. S. LYNN: So the rental payments are currently not behind?

Ms HARRISON: The rental payments are up to date.

The Hon R. B. ROWLAND SMITH: I refer to Budget Paper No. 3, Volume 2, page 630. In relation to the lease of the Eastern Creek Raceway, another of your program objectives is to have a world-class objective. Did the lease require expenditure by the tenant on upgrading and maintaining the track? If so, what was required? What tasks that should have been undertaken have not been undertaken, thus reflecting a possible breach of lease conditions? What action have you taken to ensure that Sydney facilities are brought back to world class?

Ms HARRISON: I will take that question on notice.

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The Hon C. J. S. LYNN: I return to my previous question. You answered the fourth part of the question but you avoided the first three parts. I would like to repeat them. How many months have rental payments been behind during the course of the lease? How much was maximum rental arrears at any one time, and what is the current rental fee per month?

Ms HARRISON: I will take those questions on notice.

The Hon C. J. S. LYNN: I turn to the same reference. Having in mind that your program objective is that Eastern Creek be a world-class motor sports facility, why did you fail to respond to the letter sent to you on 23 April 1998 by the E. T. Drag Racers Club of New South Wales, asking that you look into drag racers’ concerns that Eastern Creek was no longer available for drag racing? How do you justify that drag racing events since September 1997 have no longer been held at Eastern Creek, causing at least six major events to go interstate, including the Premier State Nationals in October this year, which have transferred to Brisbane, taking with it 30,000 spectators and millions of dollars of direct and indirect income to Queensland?

Ms HARRISON: You are saying all this upside down again. Two types of drag racing are run at Eastern Creek raceway, national open events and street drag events. The national open events are restricted to ANDRA members and prize money is high, whereas the street meetings are the amateur non-commercial version of the sport, open to anyone with a driver’s licence, and no prize money is paid. When the department ran Eastern Creek raceway, the national open event had the potential to make large profits or large losses, depending on whether it rained. In the final year of running Eastern Creek raceway the department lost money in running open national events. Street drag races are conducted over a shorter period and do not require extensive preparation costs. Potential profits are up to $25,000 but average out at $8,000 to $10,000 per meeting. Rain had less of an impact due to the shorter meetings, and because the track does not need to be prepared potential losses from a rained out event are only in the order of $5,000.

Due to the tighter safety restrictions imposed by CAMS the traction compound used to prepare the drag strip for the national open events, not for the street meetings, has to be cleaned off the track. This involves considerable cost, $30,000 to $40,000 and some track deterioration. The need to clean the track has made the national open events even less viable to run. In addition, the drag-stripped surface has deteriorated from the repeated cleaning, which has resulted in ANDRA banning vehicles faster than 10.99 seconds elapsed time until the track is resurfaced. The majority of cars at national open events and some cars at street meetings fall into this category. The problem of cleaning traction compound off the track is now affecting another multi-use track, Calder Park raceway in Victoria. However, Calder relies more heavily on drag racing than Eastern Creek raceway and is therefore more likely to leave the track prepared for drag racing and needs to be cleaned only occasionally for the major circuit racing events.

In the 1995-1996 financial year, Eastern Creek raceway had 86.6 per cent of event income provided by circuit usage and only 2.4 percent provided by drag racing. Therefore, it is more viable for Eastern Creek to cut back on national open drag racing events and minimise the impact on circuit racing and hiring. ANDRA has certainly written to me expressing interest in leasing Eastern Creek raceway should the ARDC fail. ANDRA has also written to the department expressing concern over the lack of national open events at Eastern Creek raceway. In 1998 the ARDC had three national open events scheduled and 19 street meetings. In the last year the department ran Eastern Creek there were nine national open events scheduled and 23 street meetings, and rain cancelled some of these events. The ARDC has cancelled all national events in 1998 due to the restrictions imposed by ANDRA as a result of the condition of the track and the desire by the ARDC to find a permanent solution rather than a stop-gap solution.

The ARDC has plans to build a separate drag strip parallel to the main straight between the straight and the grandstand. The ARDC has stated in the motoring press that it is open to offers from potential investors who may wish to build, lease and operate the drag strip. ANDRA wrote to the ARDC requesting representation on its board and was invited to attend all future board meetings where drag racing is discussed. Voluntary administrators have been appointed to the company running the Heathcote Raceway Park drag strip in Victoria. According to the article, Heathcote Raceway Park ran three national open drag racing events before going broke. The first event was successful, the second was affected by a heat wave and the third by rain. The financial difficulties experienced by the Heathcote Raceway Park in Victoria is an indication that a separate drag strip in New South Wales would face similar problems, and, as I said, the ARDC is dealing with that problem at the moment.

The Hon C. J. S. LYNN: I have a supplementary question. Firstly, in my previous question I asked why you had not responded to a letter of 23 April 1998 in regard to the drag racers club’s concerns that Eastern Creek is no longer available for drag racing. Secondly, I understand that the lease requirement for world-class motor sports requires that
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Eastern Creek be a world-class motor sport facility for all motor sports in New South Wales. Are you condoning a breach of the lease in not allowing it to be developed as a world-class facility?

Ms HARRISON: As I said, you are very repetitive. I just explained all that. As for the 23 April 1998 letter, we have had ongoing discussions with ANDRA and Eastern Creek, and, as I said, we have leased this out. It is really up to the ARDC and ANDRA to work out proposals for the drag strip, and the ARDC is dealing with that. If there is a particular letter that I have not responded to in writing, I will find it and do so, but ANDRA are well aware of my position on this issue. I have met them.

The Hon R. B. ROWLAND SMITH: I refer to Budget Paper No. 3, Volume 2, page 630, subprogram 66.1.2 Eastern Creek Raceway. How will you ensure in 1998-99 that there is an upgrading of the track, following the track having fallen into such a state of disrepair that all major motor cycling and drag racing events have now left the venue? If not, is your Government concerned about the millions of dollars worth of income lost by New South Wales through the loss of these events? Finally, does the fact that the only use that Eastern Creek now gets by motor cycle clubs is occasional tar testing comply with the lease requirements that the lessee provide a world-class facility for motor sport?

Ms HARRISON: As I just said, the ARDC has a lease of the Eastern Creek facility. If it fails to meet the terms of that lease, we will take appropriate action at that time, and I find it unbelievable that you are trying to make mileage out of something that you mucked up totally.

The Hon R. B. ROWLAND SMITH: I refute that suggestion completely and utterly.

CHAIR: Is the honourable member making a speech, or is he asking questions?

The Hon R. B. ROWLAND SMITH: I do not like those sort of remarks being made and I object to them.

CHAIR: Are you going to ask a question?

The Hon R. B. ROWLAND SMITH: I refer to Budget Paper No. 3, Volume 2, page 630. Eastern Creek Raceway, according to your program objective, is to provide, through a leasing arrangement, a world-class facility for the motor sport industry while achieving commercial return from the Eastern Creek raceway. Are you aware that back in 1989 when we first started Eastern Creek the program was not only for the raceway but to establish two golf courses? What is your Government doing about that?

Ms HARRISON: I have explained this quite adequately. We have leased out Eastern Creek. We have a return.

The Hon R. B. ROWLAND SMITH: The whole area?

Ms HARRISON: Eastern Creek. There are a number of undertakings as part of that lease that ARDC has to take over future use. If it falls short with those undertakings, we will deal with it at that time.

The Hon R. B. ROWLAND SMITH: Does that include the two golf courses?

Ms HARRISON: The golf courses you are referring to are on land owned by the Department of Urban Affairs and Planning.

The Hon R. B. ROWLAND SMITH: It belongs to the Government, not the department.

The Hon C. J. S. LYNN: I refer to Budget Paper No. 3, Volume 2, page 627, subprogram 66.1.1 Sport Development and Recreation. Having in mind that the Olympic Co-ordinating Authority and SOCOG are already charging volunteer sporting administrators and families supporting athletes $10 to park a car and upward of $12,000 just to hire the State Sports Centre for the recent schools "Senses Alive" concert, and also $3,000 for daily sports hire of the State Sports Centre for sports groups, what plans has your department made for rational and sensible post-Olympic price structures for this sporting facility once it has come under the control of your department?

Ms HARRISON: I would like to refer that to my Director-General.

Mr GILLOOLY: As everyone would be aware, there will be a significant number of world-class sporting venues available to the people of New South Wales, indeed the people of Australia, following the Olympics. I am the chairperson of a task force which has been established by the Olympic Co-ordination Authority to look at future management, costings and whatever else for a number of these facilities after the 2000 Olympics, and that extends from the velodrome, to shooting and archery facilities, and to a whole range of other facilities as well. Certainly, one of the facilities that we are looking at is the State Sports Centre, its role and what the Government’s commitment should be to it following the Olympics. Most of those who have visited Homebush will have noticed that many more facilities going in there.

The State Sports Centre will face far greater competition post Olympics. The multi-use arena, which is the working title for the building which will be called the Sydney Superdome, a 20,000 seat indoor stadium under construction at present, will be a
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significant competitor of the State Sports Centre. The RAS has a number of facilities within its grounds, which I am sure many would have seen at the Royal Easter Show this year, and it too will compete with the State Sports Centre. Two buildings on the boundary of the showground have been tentatively titled the Sydney Indoor Training Centre, with an area of 7,000 square metres, and they too will compete with the State Sports Centre following the Olympics. The question of charging for the State Sports Centre and the question of the role of the State Sports Centre post Olympics are issues that the task force that I chair through OCA is currently considering and will probably consider over the next 12 months.

It is a fairly complex question because part of the State Sports Centre legislation requires that facilities be available for community use. Parking is a major issue at the moment, but in conjunction with the State Sports Centre my department and the Olympic Co-ordination Authority are endeavouring to resolve those problems. We are very conscious of the role that volunteers play in sporting organisations and it is our belief that they should not be charged for parking in the Homebush precinct.

The Hon. C. J. S. LYNN: Given that the recent "Senses Alive" concert was put together by volunteers for the schools, do you condone charging them $12,000 to hire the facility when you only charge $3,000 a day for hire by sporting groups?

Ms HARRISON: I do not have a day-to-day role in the charging of the State Sports Centre as I have a trust which is instructed to operate commercially and get the best return possible on the Government’s assets whilst encouraging community participation in sport. I have no knowledge of individual costs of separate events throughout the year, of which there are many.

The Hon. C. J. S. LYNN: It seems to be an exorbitant charge. Would you condone that sort of charge for schools staffed by volunteers when you are trying to get maximum usage of it?

Ms HARRISON: I am not involved in day-to-day charging of any event or day-to-day negotiations with hirers of that facility.

The Hon. R. B. ROWLAND SMITH: Bearing in mind that the Australian College of Physical Education is one of your larger clients, if not the largest, do you believe it is fair that you should charge $3,000 a day for students undergoing training in that college?

Ms HARRISON: As I have said, I do not get involved in day-to-day commercial operations with that trust or any of the other trusts are under my portfolio.

The Hon. R. B. ROWLAND SMITH: Do you not believe it is incumbent on you to do so, since the State Sports Centre comes under your control?

Ms HARRISON: I believe that that is why you establish a trust: to operate a facility commercially.

The Hon. R. B. ROWLAND SMITH: Can you not talk to the trust? You are in charge of it.

Ms HARRISON: I believe I have answered that question.

CHAIR: Questions should be directed properly through the Chair.

The Hon. C. J. S. LYNN: I refer to Budget Paper No. 4, page 74, regarding your department’s program overview. Why did you allow the closure of the Little Wobbly or Little Wobby Sport and Recreation Centre? How do you demonstrate a closure of a million dollar resource which would have catered for 40 participants at the same time as you are publicly calling for greater participation in sport?

Ms HARRISON: You just answered your own question. You knew what the answer was going to be, and that is why you made that mistake. Your question was a little wobbly. Unfortunately, there were health and safety issues at that sport and recreation centre and it became necessary to close it. I would like to refer to my department officer with responsibility for that area.

Mr RUSSELL: The Little Wobby centre came into the possession of the department in about the 1970s. It is only a very small tract of land around the Broken Bay area. At that time it was owned, I think, by the education department, which signed it over to us and gradually over the years it was built upon, and added on to, if you like. Given the nature of the climate - the wind and water and so on - obviously the maintenance of the centre was very, very expensive. Over the years we tried to maintain the centre and keep the facility open for 40 people attending the centre. Our other centres, such as the one at Broken Bay, can take up to 160 children at a time. The Little Wobby one can only take 40 children at a time. In effect, it was not all that cost effective for us and cost us a lot of money, even though the facilities are very good, the outlook is wonderful, the trip across from Broken Bay to Little Wobby is an excellent little trip, and the kids can go out on the schooner yacht and have a good time and fish off the wharf.

The Hon. R. B. ROWLAND SMITH: Thanks to a coalition government.

Mr RUSSELL: That is right. However, over the years, as I said, the condition of the building deteriorated to such an extent that rust was getting in
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and so on. The Department of Public Works looked at the centre a number of times to deem whether it was safe. Gradually there was an earth slippage as well and that was undermining the foundations of the centre. The Department of Public Works gave us general updates on the condition of the building. Of course, we have to take into account the safety of the people there, including our staff. It was also monitored from the Broken Bay site, which is joined to the Little Wobby site, if you like, by a three-kilometre road, and maintenance of that cost a lot of money.

Eventually, the year before last, we had another estimate from the Department of Public Works which recommended that we either pull it down and build a new one or close it down altogether. We estimated about three or four years ago that to build a new one would cost about $3 million. Now we think it would cost between $4 million and $5 million. We just do not have that money at this time, so we decided to close the facility down to ensure that people were not being put at undue risk. Evaluation of the future of the centre is being undertaken, but it will take some time.

The Hon. C. J. S. LYNN: I refer to Budget Paper No. 2, page 4-198. Bearing in mind the Premier’s promise to allocate $12 million to the transfer of the North Sydney Bears to Grahame Park, will you or your Government now allocate a similar amount to the Manly-Warringah Leagues Club, whose representatives have met with you seeking assistance to improve the seating and ground at Brookvale Oval? Bearing in mind that this is the only north shore facility between North Sydney and Palm Beach, do you consider that it should be treated similarly to the Bears’ funding request?

[Time expired.]

The Hon. I. COHEN: I refer to Budget Paper No. 2, page 4-197. Does your department target, in any way, over-fifties sporting teams, financially supporting them and also encouraging seniors to actively participate in team sporting events?

Ms HARRISON: I do not believe there is a specific budget for, say, over-fifties sporting teams, but the Walking for Pleasure programs are excellent. The Active Australia program targets older adults with the International Year of the Older Person. We are looking at a number of strategies to use that idea as a springboard for a number of future projects.

The Hon. I. COHEN: Do you recognise that there are team sport organisations other than bowls and such like? I understand there is a men’s over-fifties hockey team.

Ms HARRISON: Absolutely. I can give you a full answer on what we do, but we have recognised that older people’s participation in sport should be encouraged. Our primary focus was on increasing activity rather than increasing organised sport, although we see that as just as important. That is what we will look for in the International Year of the Older Person, but I will refer the question to my departmental officer.

Mr GOLDSPRING: The department gets involved in supporting sporting bodies, both at the State and community level, in developing skills to assist people throughout the whole community participate in sport. One of the major areas in which we are able to assist sport across the State is in the development of coaching personnel. The Sydney Academy of Sport plays a part in this, as do the department’s regional officers. More recently we in the department, particularly in the talent development division, have been focusing on initiatives which will enable us to improve the level of coaching available to people throughout the State, and included amongst those people would be the over fifties. Increasingly people are inquiring of the coaching centre - sports science personnel and people such as the two coaches referred to previously by the Minister - to assist in technical aspects of sport which can help people, irrespective of whether they are talented people, youngsters, or people participating in master sports or other particular groups.

The Hon. I. COHEN: Is there any allocation of funding to over-fifties sporting bodies at all, or is there an opportunity for them to create an arrangement of part club participation and part government sponsorship for organised sporting activities?

Ms HARRISON: The branches of sport that would deal particularly with the masters section of sport or with seniors, amongst other groups, would be affiliated with their State sporting organisation. We give money to State sporting organisations from our sports development programs for them to run their sport, so they would receive their help originally from their State sporting organisation. We do not deal directly with the youth section, senior section or women’s section of a sport. We fund the sport and the sport runs itself. They would get the help they need through their sport. It would be up to the State sporting organisation.

The Committee proceeded to deliberate on the recommendation of the vote.

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