Australia's Sports Ministers have agreed to undertake an ambitious reform agenda to secure the country's sporting future and get more Aussie kids healthy and active. The first Sport and Recreation Ministers Council meeting since the election of the new Government agreed to prioritise the use of physical activity and active recreation as a means to improve the health and wellbeing of all Australians.
Ministers Agree to Coordinated Approach to Sport and Recreation
6 June 2008
Australia’s Sports Ministers today agreed to undertake an ambitious reform agenda to secure Australia’s sporting future and get more Aussie kids healthy and active.
The first Sport and Recreation Ministers Council meeting since the election of the Rudd Government took place in Parliament House, Canberra today .
Chairing the meeting, the Federal Minister for Sport and Youth, Kate Ellis welcomed the enthusiastic support for the Rudd Government's new strategic directions paper.
“Labor Governments have a proud history as the builders, investors and champions of Australian sport,” Ms Ellis said.
“The Australian sporting community will see reinvigorated national cooperation.
“We have also agreed to prioritise the use of physical activity and active recreation as a means to improve the health and wellbeing of all Australians.”
Ministers today agreed to:
o cooperate with an independent review of Australian sporting structures; o look at how to optimise coordination between State, Territory and National high performance and elite sport programs; o advise the Council of Australian Governments of the pressing need for every child to participate in physical activity for their health; o increase the role and participation rates of women in sport; o work more cooperatively to support indigenous and disabled sport; and o back the Football Federation of Australia’s bid for Australia to host the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
“If we are to safeguard the future of Australian sport, we must be prepared to integrate all levels of government and embrace new ideas and necessary reform,” Ms Ellis said “Today’s meeting has been an important early step in all jurisdictions harnessing sport’s potential to help meet big future challenges in the areas of health, education and social inclusion.”
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