Sports and Arts Funding - Grievance Debate
Wednesday 3 June 2026
S.E. ANDREWS (Gibson) (15:11): This is a government which knows how far reaching the impact of investment into sports and arts is whilst those opposite have a record of opposition and cuts. When the Marshall Liberal government delivered its first budget in 2018, the arts sector faced a $4.9 million reduction in funds, with $3 million cut from arts institutions and programs. Yet, since coming into government our Malinauskas government has committed an additional $231 million to South Australian arts, culture and creative industries.
When Liberal members stood outside the old Aquatic Centre seeking to garner support for halting progress, not surprisingly the community was able to look beyond this and share in our vision. In fact, as of one month ago our new Adelaide Aquatic Centre has had 212,000 visitors—because we know that investing in sports and arts enriches society in ways that extend far beyond entertainment. These two pillars of culture and physical activity generate profound economic, social and psychological benefits that touch every layer of our community.
Sports and arts are significant economic engines. Stadiums, theatres, galleries and ovals attract tourists, stimulate local spending and create thousands of jobs—from coaches and curators to event staff and crew. Major events like Gather Round or the Adelaide Festival inject millions into our economy, while thriving arts and sporting hubs can revitalise our regions.
Investment in sports infrastructure like parks, gyms, courts and recreational programs, encourages physical activity across all age groups and supports our government's commitment to get kids off screens. Regular participation in sport reduces rates of obesity, cardiovascular disease and mental illness, ultimately lowering the long-term burden on our public healthcare system. The return on investment is clear: every dollar spent on youth sports programs saves multiple future healthcare and social costs. Similarly, engagement with the arts has been shown to reduce stress, combat loneliness and improve cognitive function.
We know how impactful our Sports Vouchers program is, giving young people increased opportunity to engage with the activity they love—be it footy, gymnastics, violin lessons or anything in between—as well as being a tangible cost-of-living support for families, which makes such a huge difference to their finances. Importantly, this sets our young people up for a successful future. With this in mind, we doubled the number of sports vouchers you can claim in 2025, and next year we are expanding the program to capture 16 to 18 year olds, a notoriously tricky time to keep young people active, and that is exactly why we are doing something about it.
Children who participate in sport develop discipline, teamwork, resilience, and leadership, skills that translate directly into academic and professional success. Sports teach young people how to handle failure, collaborate under pressure and set goals, whilst arts engagement builds creativity, critical thinking and emotional intelligence. Students engaged in music, drama, or visual arts consistently demonstrate stronger academic performance and higher rates of school completion. Both domains offer future pathways, providing purpose and opportunity to young people who might otherwise fall through the cracks.
Few forces unite communities as powerfully as sport and art. A local soccer team or a band becomes a shared point of pride, fostering belonging and civic identity. On a national scale, sporting achievement galvanises entire populations, transcending political and social divisions. I think many of us know where we were and who we shared the moment with when the Matildas won the penalty shootout against France in the 2023 World Cup, and not just because it was the longest penalty shootout in World Cup history. In fact, this government understands this moment in time so well that it triggered a wave of investment for women and girls to participate in sport.
Whilst the arts preserve our cultural heritage, give voice to marginalised communities and spark conversations that drive social progress, great literature, music, and visual art have historically challenged injustice and shifted public consciousness in ways that policy alone cannot. Investing in sports and arts is not an indulgence. It is a strategic commitment to healthier, more educated, more cohesive and more prosperous societies because our music, cinema and athletic excellence can shape how we are perceived worldwide, opening diplomatic doors and driving export revenues.
