Australian sports funding initiatives announced in Tasmania and ACT

The Tasmanian Government has increased support for the Active Industry Fund, making $4.8 million available to local sporting bodies. The initiative aims to strengthen peak administrative organisations and improve governance standards across the state. Individual grants ranging from $80,000 to $240,000 will be distributed to eligible organisations, with a specific focus on increasing female participation and retention in line with the Tasmanian Women and Girls Sport Strategy.

In the Australian Capital Territory, the ACT Greens have proposed an overhaul of the community contribution scheme related to club poker machine revenue. Spokeswoman Rebecca Vassarotti suggested creating an independent investment fund to manage these contributions, aiming to reduce the reliance of local sports clubs on gambling-derived revenue. The proposal includes a suggested $155 million injection into a new fund to provide ongoing returns for community sport, ahead of a major gambling reform package announcement by Gaming Reform Minister Marisa Paterson.