Senate debates

Tuesday, 12 September 2006

Questions without Notice

Children in Sport

2:28 pm

Photo of Rod KempRod Kemp (Victoria, Liberal Party, Minister for the Arts and Sport) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you to Senator Cory Bernardi for this important question. I acknowledge his continued interest in this topic. Many of my colleagues, Mr President—including your good self, if I remember correctly—attended a function recently in Parliament House where we had the ambassadors Kieren Perkins and Cathy Freeman for the Active After-school Communities Program. I think it is true to say that this was an occasion which was able to highlight to Parliament House, and I hope to the wider community, the importance of this program. As senators know, I do not often praise Senator Lundy in this place, but Senator Lundy was at this particular occasion and, I must say, is able to support this program, as indeed I think all parts of the chamber are.

As many senators know, in June 2004, the Prime Minister announced the Building a Healthy, Active Australia initiative, which was to encourage all young Australians to participate in more physical activity and embrace healthy eating habits. A major component of this very important program is the Active After-school Communities program. Its aim is simply to get more young children—those who are particularly inactive—doing safe, fun and inclusive physical exercise. The program, as senators would know, offers free, structured physical activity to all children in primary schools that are registered and out of school hours care services across Australia, in the hours after school.

The sports portfolio, through the Australian Sports Commission, has carriage of the development and implementation of this very important Active After-school Communities program. It is a practical means of improving the health, wellbeing and motor skill competencies of primary school children. The support for the program has been overwhelming and the government aims to involve over 3,000 primary schools and childcare approved centres with the program by term 3, 2007.

Last week Kieren Perkins and Cathy Freeman were here in Parliament House for a very successful occasion. It is a program which is very important. Today, the Prime Minister and the Minister for Health and Ageing, announced another important step in the work of the government’s task force. Socceroo Harry Kewell was announced as the Australian government ambassador to promote healthy living.

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