Release:  18 September 2013

CAS Welcomes Peter Dutton as new Federal Minister for Sport

The Board of the Confederation of Australian Sport (CAS) has welcomed the appointment of the Hon. Peter Dutton as the incoming Federal Minister for Sport.  As part of the new Tony Abbott Ministry, Mr Dutton will be sworn in today to assume responsibility for both the Health and Sport portfolios.

CAS President Rob Bradley said he was pleased to see that Sport had again been aligned with the Health portfolio and was again represented at Cabinet level.  “Sport makes a huge contribution to the preventative health agenda and linking the two portfolios with a common Minister will provide an excellent opportunity for a coordinated long term response,” Rob Bradley said.

“Conditions have not been easy for Australian sport over the past few years and CAS believes that a coordinated Sport policy with foundations in Health and Education will derive long term benefits for the Australian community.”

Rob Bradley said: “The contribution that Australian sport makes to our nation from a health, social and economic perspective is not sufficiently recognised or rewarded at present and CAS looks forward to working closely with Minister Dutton in the future.”

With a 30 year heritage CAS continues to promote the ‘Sport for All’ message encouraging the following key elements of its platform:

·        Building an effective, high quality sport system that is financially strong and self-sustainable

·        Ensuring that all children have access to skills, knowledge and opportunity through the mandatory inclusion of sport and physical education in all schools throughout Australia

·        Removing barriers to participation in sport and active recreation faced by sections of the Australian population including women, indigenous and multi-cultural communities.

“This is a critical time for Australian Sport,” said Rob Bradley. “Many of the traditional advantages that Australian sport has had in the past are now gone or have been seriously eroded. We hope that the new Minister will be prepared to start rebuilding for the future.”

For further information please contact:

Rob Bradley

President and CEO – Confederation of Australian Sport

M: 0412343651  E: cas@sportforall.com.au

Posted:  18 September 2013