Transcript of my supporting speech in the Assembly, in speaking to Ms Lee’s AIS Motion.
2023 10 24 AIS Motion
Madam Speaker, I thank Ms Lee for an opportunity to speak to this motion, that is so close to my own interests.
And so the Federal Labor government has ordered an independent review. Though how independent it is, considering a member of the Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic organising committee board member is one of the two reviewers!
It is disappointing to see the uncertainty around the AIS again raising its head. Of course, with the aging infrastructure, the lack of ongoing financial commitment, and lack of access to the facilities – well it is perhaps not entirely surprising.
The forty five year old AIS is certainly a grandmother in sports terms. Once it held the pride of place in the sports business, preparing our top athletes and sports people for participation at home and abroad. The significant neglect of the fabric of the place, however, has meant that it is now almost derelict. To the point it no longer meets modern standards of fire safety and access.
The main arena, once the ACTs premier indoor sporting and entertainment facility, has been closed since 2019. The last few years have seen a number of promises for upgrades and improvements, but with very little action. Kieren Perkins, now the head of the sports Commission has called the progress on the upgrades ‘glacial’ and has suggested that the Arena won’t open again till 2024.
Yet, the AIS hub in the ACT continues to be useful, despite its aging infrastructure. As an Institution it represents more than 100 sports, 39 at Olympic level. Whilst the ACT Hub, in 2023 will have hosted 5000 athletes, with staff from 31 different sports using the campus on a regular basis.
It just needs to have money invested in it, to make it fit for purpose. And not just the $15 million currently being funded by the Federal government. This will barely meet the existing repair bill and open the arena for public use.
It is real money that is needed, and not just for the Arena. Money needs to be spent on the Combat centre, the Basketball and Netball hall, the Volleyball Hall, the FIFA synthetic Field to bring it up to match standard, as well as the athletics track.
The main problem is of course the total amount of that real money that is required. The Review conducted by the AIS, which also looked at moving the Institute, showed that it needed about $200 million spent on it to fully upgrade existing facilities.
The internal AIS review also showed that it would take 4 to 8 years and one billion dollars to move the AIS to Queensland, which the review found would be detrimental to sports in Australia.
It would seem a no brainer really to have the AIS continue to be situated in Canberra. And, instead of spending one billion dollars on moving it, let’s spend that money on upgrading the ACT facilities. And whilst they are at it, reducing the cost of access to our local community.
In the past couple of years I have met with many sports associations and clubs, some of whom use the AIS. But many of them choose not to. They have preferred to travel to our city’s further away venues, because the cost of hiring facilities, which includes additional costs for using the carpark, at the more central AIS was becoming unaffordable.
It is challenging to host events or participate in sports at the AIS. The cost of attending, the cost of hiring the facilities, and the lack of upkeep, make it difficult to use for clubs in the community.
So, I repeat, let the Federal government, seeing as they have one billion dollars to spare, let them spend it on the aging AIS infrastructure and Stadium. Let’s stop playing football, so to speak, with the sporting and events needs of Canberrans, creating uncertainty around the AIS. Madam speaker I am very happy to support Ms Lee’s motion to the Assembly.
END