NSW Labor will commit to increasing the funding for Sport NSW and its constituent State Sporting Organisations (SSO) to help end the crisis in community sport.
 
There are approximately 100 recognised State Sporting Organisations in NSW including Netball NSW, Touch Football NSW, Athletics NSW and Football NSW.

A November 2022 report from Sport NSW found community sport organisations are still receiving the same level of funding today as they were when Sydney staged the Olympics in 2000 – over two decades ago.
 
When factoring in inflation, this is effectively a funding reduction in real terms of 67.1 per cent.
 
As a result, it’s left community sport in a state of crisis and chronic underfunding.
 
That’s why if elected, NSW Labor has agreed to step up the Organisation Support Program funding to $5 million in 2023-24 and $10 million per year in the years after as a part of multi-year agreements.
 
The Organisation Support Program assists peak sporting bodies and identified organisations to build capacity, invest in governance processes and create and deliver sport and recreation activities as well as competitions at all levels in NSW.
 
NSW Labor will also ensure the Office of Sport agrees on outcomes with SSO’s on how their programs and activities will increase girls and women’s participation in sport.
 
Sport NSW will have its funding increased by $250,000 which will support the ongoing delivery and expansion of Sport NSW’s female sporting leadership and Fast Track for Female Coaches programs. 
 
NSW has fallen behind what other states are investing, with basketball for example receiving $55,000 a year compared to more than $400,000 in Queensland.
 
This ensures that every sport has adequate funding to administer competitions and meet growing governance requirements; and no sport is left worse off.
 
Quotes attributable to Chris Minns, NSW Labor Leader:
 
“Sports organisations and clubs are often held together by the passion of volunteers, parents and families and it’s time that we had modern funding arrangements to match the modern challenges faced by these groups.
 
“I don’t want a situation where community sporting organisations are turning kids away because they can’t meet the demand in their area.”
 
“This funding will help improve programs and increase female participation and leadership pathways right across sport in NSW.”
 
Quotes attributable to Julia Finn, NSW Shadow Minister for Sport:
 
“This funding will help sports organisations grow participation for women’s sport while also keeping up with changing rules, regulations, technology and compliance requirements.
 
“Mums and dads who run smaller sports group are writing grant applications in their spare time after work and are often unfairly pitted against more well-resourced organisations.”
 
Quotes attributable to Kylie Wilkinson, NSW Labor candidate for East Hills:
 
“I know first hand how hard it is to keep sports and clubs operating, especially given the rising cost of running a sport. This funding will really help us amplify women’s sport in NSW.
 
“Grassroots clubs like mine struggle to get support from the state bodies because they have got limited resources and are really stretched.”
 
Quotes attributable to Chris Hall, Chair of Sport NSW:
 
“Sport NSW welcomes today’s announcement that NSW Labor have committed to increasing the Organisational Support Payment for sports.
 
“These payments have been frozen in time since the year 2000 which has meant inflation has eaten away at these grants by over 67 per cent.
 
“The smallest payments to sports at the moment are just $5,000 a year or $100 a week which doesn’t buy very much anymore.
 
“Sports now rightly need to stay on top of governance requirements ranging from data security through to child protection.
 
“Some smaller sports are volunteer run. This increase could be used to put on an employee for the first time to really increase the capacity for governance, more and improved programs and competitions, and really target an increase in female participation.”
 
Quotes attributable to Baz Wedmaier, Volleyball NSW CEO:
 
“The additional core funding would increase our ability to support coach and club development, engage with places to play and enhance our participation and performance programs.”

CHRIS MINNS MP
NSW LABOR LEADER

JULIA FINN MP
NSW SHADOW MINISTER FOR SPORT

KYLIE WILKINSON
NSW LABOR CANDIDATE FOR EAST HILLS