Australian Sports Commission Historical Budget Information

By Greg Blood

The Australian Government’s funding to sport since 1985/86 has primarily been through allocations to the Australian Sports Commission (ASC). This compilation will assist those interested the Australian Government’s investment in sport.

The Australian Government also allocates funding to Sport Integrity Australia and the Office of Sport located in the Federal Dept responsible for sport. Funding to Sport Integrity Australia (formerly Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority) has increased in recent years due to Australian Governments increased commitment to sport integrity. Office for Sport currently part of the Dept. of Health and Aged Care allocates funding to major events and water and snow safety. These allocations are not covered in this article.

The table below documents Australian Government allocations to the ASC. The merger of ASC and the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) in 1988/89 has led to consolidated funding. ASC funding allocated to national sports organisations (NSO) is listed – this highlights changes in the level of financial support to NSOs.

Significant Australian Governments funding announcements are noted as they have led to an increase in ASC funding. ASC funding is primarily directed towards high performance, participation and governance.

Table 1 – Australian Government Funding to Australian Sports Commission

YearAIS/ASC
Govt
Funding

$’000
Total AIS/ASC
Income

$’000
ASC NSO Funding
$’000
Funding Notes including
Policy
Announcements
1980/811,077 1,164n/aAIS opened
Jan 1981
1981/822,7383,009n/aAIS only
1982/834,5074,796n/aAIS only
1983/845,560 6,143n/aAIS only
1984/858,9209,640n/aAIS only
1985/8619,60621,5037,040Combined ASC & AIS funding
1986/8721,89325,1745,597Combined ASC & AIS funding
1987/8828,40935,6956,455 Combined ASC & AIS funding
1988/8927,80935,883 6,122 ASC includes AIS from 1988/89 due to merger
1989/9043,04656,556 12,855 The Next Step” Policy – $230 m over 4 years.
1990/9155,341 64,397 31,569
1991/9259,250 70,031 36,172
1992/9360,799 69,882 35,340
1993/9463,363 71,711 37,402
1994/9585,918 97,386 49, 719 Olympic Athlete Program
1994-2000 Policy – $140m over 6 years
1995/9687,031 104,857 56,864
1996/9784,320 106,130 48,300
1997/9889,977 107,780 57,528
1998/9989,824 110,663 57,451
1999/00112,894 136,080 59,484
2000/0197,612 113,707 46,887
2001/02124,400 145,082 66,161 Backing Australia’s Sporting Future Policy –
$161.6 m over 4 years
2002/03134,296 157,018 69, 416 The refurbishment of AIS facilities including establishing European Training Centre – $65.36 m
2003/04125,592147,949 74,259
2004/05145,794 170,606 75,166 Active After-school Communities (AASC) commenced – $90 m over 3 years
2005/06168,631 190,526 78,679
2006/07193,017 217,443 89,716
2007/08216,375 251,343 96,809 AASC extended further three years – $124.4 m
2008/09219,785262,205 103,173
2009/10223,004 255,84395,521
2010/11269,501315,630126,588 Australia Sport: The pathway to success – $195.2 including $43.1 m AASC program
2011/12268,693316,006136,015
2012/13267,698 305,407130,157
2013/14265,914297,666122,705
2014/15266,068 311,236138,813 Sporting Schools initiative – $100.3 million over three years.
2015/16253,646291,864125,680
2016/17250,669288,925127,778
2017/18267,904 298,809137,155 Grants 2,000 athletes $15.5 million
2018/19374,346402,066173,494 Sport Building More Active Australia – $230 m over four years including
$102.4 m community sports facilities
2019/20388,503418,701170, 715
2020/21322,404347,721174,589
2021/22323,530349,920164,901

Notes –

  • Source: Australian Sports Commission (1984/85- ) and Australian Institute of Sport (1981-1988) Annual Reports (financial statements and NSO Allocations) available through Clearinghouse for Sport Publications Archive
  • Total ASC Income includes Australian Government allocations and other income ( sale of goods and services, interest, royalties and rental income)
  • Limited NSO funding prior to the establishment of the ASC was allocated by Federal Dept responsible for sport
  • In researching this article, they were often discrepancies between annual reports and Australian Government papers papers. The decision was made to rely on ASC annual reports due to their accessibility.
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