Australia Yearbook - 2001

Chapter 12—Culture and recreation 527
There is still a problem of women’s
involvement, some feminists declaring the
domain to be a site of male hegemony and
sexism (Bryson, 1987). This era of commodified
global sport and TV entertainment encourages
watching and discourages the dabbler, giving
preference (and rewards) to the elite performer.
“Sports participation is less obviously an
Australian trait.” (Vamplew and Stoddart 1994).
Player registrations have been decreasing for
decades and the Federal Government has
created programs to encourage active
involvement in playful (as against competitive,
elite determining) sport. The Active Australia
program is a current example. Physical
Education has been termed “in a crisis state” in
Australian schools (Crowley Report) and few
youngsters are being taught the basic
maturation skills that can contribute to or
encourage an active lifestyle. Physical activity
surveys indicate that a sizeable proportion of
Australians exercise neither long enough nor
sufficiently vigorously to maintain a reasonable
level of fitness.
One frequently asked question in Australia is:
“After 2000, what?” The Olympics are over and
have been successfully staged. Hopefully the
emphasis in sport and recreation will be
directed to assisting those, other than elite
athletes, who could give veracity to the
statement “an active, sporting lifestyle”.
Funding for recreation and sport
Government funding
Total (consolidated) expenditure by the three
levels of government (Commonwealth, State and
Territory and local) on recreation in 1998–99 was
$4,775m. Most expenditure was by general
government ($3,447m compared with $1,915m by
public non-financial corporations). Of general
government expenditure (before consolidation
between sectors), Commonwealth government
expenditure was $236m, State and Territory
$1,767m and local $1,515m. Of all public
expenditure on recreation, current expenditure
was far more significant than capital expenditure
($3,890m compared with $885m).
The Commonwealth Government, through the
Australian Sports Commission, supports the
development of sport in Australia. In 2000–01 the
Commission, with a budget of some $111m, will
provide assistance for elite athlete development
programs, coaching, officiating, international
competition, training camps, management
improvement and community sport.
Business sponsorship
In 1996–97 about 22,700 employing businesses
(3.7%) sponsored sport to the value of $282m.
Sport, recreation and gambling
industries
There are over 11,000 businesses in the sports,
recreation and gambling industries according to
surveys conducted by the ABS.
There were 5,066 businesses in the sports
industries at 30 June 1995. These businesses
employed 58,414 persons and generated $2,517m
in income during 1994–95 (table 12.29). There
were 112,877 unpaid volunteers, representing
66% of persons working in sports industries.
Other recreation services, which include
amusement parks or arcades, sideshows, circuses
and agricultural shows, comprised 666 businesses,
employing 10,138 persons and 3,518 volunteers.
The section Sports industries in Chapter 21,
Service industries contains some further
information on these industries.
There were 1,776 businesses in the gambling
services industries at 30 June 1998. These
businesses employed 37,035 persons and
received $7,935m in income, the major source of
income (91%) being the takings (net of payouts
to players) and commissions from gambling
(table 12.30). Total expenses for the gambling
services industries were $7,518m, of which 35%
were gambling taxes and levies.
There were 3,749 businesses in the hospitality
clubs industry at 30 June 1998, employing
67,272 persons and receiving total income of
$6,013m. Of these businesses, 2,408 had
gambling facilities and received income from
gambling of $3,207m.