An elected Dutton Coalition Government will invest $20 million to expand the reach of Regional Academies of Sport across every state and territory, ensuring young athletes, no matter where they live, have access to world-class high-performance training and development.
Regional Academies of Sport have been instrumental in the success of 98 Olympians and 14 Paralympians in Australia, including some of our most iconic athletes such as Jessica Fox, Emma McKeon, Kurt Fearnley and Ryley Batt.
As part of the Coalition’s commitment, we will work with Regional Academies of Sport to establish more regional sporting academies, supporting the delivery of elite training programs for aspiring young athletes across Australia.
This funding will also increase access to para-athlete support pathways, youth leadership and mentoring initiatives and financial assistance to reduce costs for athletes, coaches, and volunteers.
Shadow Minister for Sport, Senator the Hon Anne Ruston said that the Coalition is the only party which is truly committed to supporting a strong Green and Gold Runway to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games and seizing the legacy opportunities.
“You shouldn’t have to move to a capital city to chase your Olympic dreams,” Senator Ruston said.
“This significant investment backs our aspiring young athletes across Australia and ensures that opportunities will exist for them in every corner of the country, especially in the lead up to Brisbane 2032.
“Regional athletes have made an incredibly important contribution to Australia’s international sporting reputation, and it’s time they have a comprehensive academy system that recognises and supports that value.”
The Coalition’s $20 million commitment will also ensure that states and territories currently without an established regional sporting academy network are brought into the fold, strengthening the national talent pathway.
This announcement follows the Albanese Labor Government’s failure to recognise and support the important legacy opportunities of Brisbane 2032, including a string of missed investments and delays in sports development funding.
“Labor talked a big game, but they’ve failed to build on the Green and Gold Runway to Brisbane 2032 secured by the former Coalition Government, and they have even cancelled important events like the Victorian Commonwealth Games,” Senator Ruston said.
“We won’t let this opportunity go to waste. We are serious about building Australia’s sporting legacy — and regional Australia will play an important role.”
The Regional Academies of Sport are an organisation working in the talent pathway with the goal to move regional athletes to the National Institutes around the nation. For many decades, the regional academy system has proven to be a successful model in developing aspiring young people with a strong track record in creating Australia’s future sporting champions.
ENDS
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