Under a Queensland Greens plan announced today every Queenslander under 18 would have their club sport registration costs for one free season of club sport per year covered by the State Government, with the money paid directly to the club to avoid administration costs.
The plan would also give parents $150 vouchers to buy sports equipment, and see every club eligible to apply for a $10,000 grant to help upgrade facilities, recover from the impacts of COVID-19 and handle the extra registrations that will come with free sport.
The total cost of the plan would be $500 million per year, covered by the Greens’ proposed 0.05% levy on the big five banks, which would raise $1.2 billion per year.
Greens MP Michael Berkman:
“The average cost of a season of club sport in Queensland is $775 per year, which means a family with three children could end up having to pay over $2,000 just so every child can play - that’s just too expensive for too many families.
“A footy club can be the heart and soul of a community and it’s a tragedy that kids and families miss out because they can’t afford the fees.
“It should be a right for every Queensland kid to play organised sport, regardless of their parents’ ability to pay.
“Organised sport is crucial for children to get fit, make friends, have fun and learn new life skills - just like health and education, sport is an essential service so it should be free.
“Our plan will transform hundreds of thousands of children’s lives for the better, save families thousands of dollars a year, and inject hundreds of millions of dollars into communities across Queensland at a time when they desperately need it.”
The Greens will:
- Guarantee all Queenslanders under 18 a free season of organised sport every year by covering all registration costs, paid directly to clubs
- Provide $10,000 grants to sports clubs to help upgrade facilities, recover from the impacts of COVID-19 and handle the extra registrations that will come with free sport
- Give parents a $150 rebate for the purchase of sports equipment
- Cover the total cost ($500 million a year) with a 0.05% levy on the big banks (raises $1.2 billion a year)