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
| Year | AIS/ASC Govt Funding $’000 | Total AIS/ASC Income $’000 | ASC NSO Funding $’000 | Funding Notes including Policy Announcements |
| 1980/81 | 1,077 | 1,164 | n/a | AIS opened Jan 1981 |
| 1981/82 | 2,738 | 3,009 | n/a | AIS only |
| 1982/83 | 4,507 | 4,796 | n/a | AIS only |
| 1983/84 | 5,560 | 6,143 | n/a | AIS only |
| 1984/85 | 8,920 | 9,640 | n/a | AIS only |
| 1985/86 | 19,606 | 21,503 | 7,040 | Combined ASC & AIS funding |
| 1986/87 | 21,893 | 25,174 | 5,597 | Combined ASC & AIS funding |
| 1987/88 | 28,409 | 35,695 | 6,455 | Combined ASC & AIS funding |
| 1988/89 | 27,809 | 35,883 | 6,122 | ASC includes AIS from 1988/89 due to merger |
| 1989/90 | 43,046 | 56,556 | 12,855 | The Next Step” Policy – $230 m over 4 years. |
| 1990/91 | 55,341 | 64,397 | 31,569 | |
| 1991/92 | 59,250 | 70,031 | 36,172 | |
| 1992/93 | 60,799 | 69,882 | 35,340 | |
| 1993/94 | 63,363 | 71,711 | 37,402 | |
| 1994/95 | 85,918 | 97,386 | 49, 719 | Olympic Athlete Program 1994-2000 Policy – $140m over 6 years |
| 1995/96 | 87,031 | 104,857 | 56,864 | |
| 1996/97 | 84,320 | 106,130 | 48,300 | |
| 1997/98 | 89,977 | 107,780 | 57,528 | |
| 1998/99 | 89,824 | 110,663 | 57,451 | |
| 1999/00 | 112,894 | 136,080 | 59,484 | |
| 2000/01 | 97,612 | 113,707 | 46,887 | |
| 2001/02 | 124,400 | 145,082 | 66,161 | Backing Australia’s Sporting Future Policy – $161.6 m over 4 years |
| 2002/03 | 134,296 | 157,018 | 69, 416 | The refurbishment of AIS facilities including establishing European Training Centre – $65.36 m |
| 2003/04 | 125,592 | 147,949 | 74,259 | |
| 2004/05 | 145,794 | 170,606 | 75,166 | Active After-school Communities (AASC) commenced – $90 m over 3 years |
| 2005/06 | 168,631 | 190,526 | 78,679 | |
| 2006/07 | 193,017 | 217,443 | 89,716 | |
| 2007/08 | 216,375 | 251,343 | 96,809 | AASC extended further three years – $124.4 m |
| 2008/09 | 219,785 | 262,205 | 103,173 | |
| 2009/10 | 223,004 | 255,843 | 95,521 | |
| 2010/11 | 269,501 | 315,630 | 126,588 | Australia Sport: The pathway to success – $195.2 including $43.1 m AASC program |
| 2011/12 | 268,693 | 316,006 | 136,015 | |
| 2012/13 | 267,698 | 305,407 | 130,157 | |
| 2013/14 | 265,914 | 297,666 | 122,705 | |
| 2014/15 | 266,068 | 311,236 | 138,813 | Sporting Schools initiative – $100.3 million over three years. |
| 2015/16 | 253,646 | 291,864 | 125,680 | |
| 2016/17 | 250,669 | 288,925 | 127,778 | |
| 2017/18 | 267,904 | 298,809 | 137,155 | Grants 2,000 athletes $15.5 million |
| 2018/19 | 374,346 | 402,066 | 173,494 | Sport Building More Active Australia – $230 m over four years including $102.4 m community sports facilities |
| 2019/20 | 388,503 | 418,701 | 170, 715 | |
| 2020/21 | 322,404 | 347,721 | 174,589 | |
| 2021/22 | 323,530 | 349,920 | 164,901 |
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.