Australian Sport Reflections

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Sport and the 2025 Australian Federal Election – Final

By Greg Blood

This article follows 2019 and 2022 reviews on sport issues and commitments related to Australian federal elections.

Previous Australian federal elections reviewed highlighted the significant number of sport facility commitments made by the ALP and Coalition. Many of these related to improving sports facilities for girls and women. Going into the 2025 election, both the ALP and the Coalition had sport facility funding programs in their policy. However, the ALP made fewer commitments due to meeting their significant commitments from the 2022 federal election and current Play Our Way program. Sport as not prominantly used by Albanese and Dutton’s in their campaigns.

Dutton was rated more unpopular than Albanese in published opinion polling. Was Albanese popularity linked in his long term demonstrated interest in sport particularly rugby league (South Sydney Rabbitohs), AFL (Hawthorn) and tennis ?

Contents

Sporting Politicians

In the 47th Parliament of Australia (2022-2025), there were three Australian ‘sporting’ politicians –

  • Winter Olympic medallist – Zali Steggall (Independent in Warringah) Elected
  • Olympic shooter Dan Repacholi  (ALP for Hunter, NSW) Elected
  • Australian Wallaby David Pocock – (Independent for the ACT Senate) Elected

All three current “sporting” politicians are standing again. New candidates include:

  • Paralympian Sam Carter (Australian Greens for Bean , ACT) Not elected
  • Basketballer Matt Smith (ALP for Leichhardt, QLD) Elected
  • Rugby league player Greg Dowling (Trumpet of Patriots for Leichhardt, QLD) Not elected
  • AFL player Anthony Koutoufides Independant for Melbourne, Vic) Not elected

Political Issues

Ministers/Shadow Ministers

Sports Gambling

In June 2023, House of Representatives Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs published a report (known as Murphy report) on online gambling and its impacts on those experiencing gambling harm. A key recommendation was “to implement a comprehensive ban on all forms of advertising for online gambling, to be introduced in four phases over three years, commencing immediately”.  The Albanese Government describes the implementing the ban as “complex” due to its impact on sporting organisations and broadcasters. It had not made a decision by March 2025 when the election was called.

After the report was released Opposition Leader Peter Dutton announced his government “would move to ban sports betting advertising during the broadcasting of games, with ads banned for an hour each side of a sporting fixture.”Two Liberal members – Keith Wolahan and Simon Kennedy publishinmg campaign material urging for a ban.

Gender and sport

The Australian Sports Commission (ASC) partnered with the Australian Human Rights Commission and the Coalition of Major Professional and Participation Sports to publish Guidelines for the inclusion of transgender and gender diverse people in sport in 2019. Prime Minister Albanese when questioned on this issue maintained it was an issue for sports organisations to determine.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has backed calls for women and girls to be able to compete in sports on a “fair basis”.

Brisbane Olympics

Albanese Government has largely stayed away from issues regarding major Brisbane Olympics & Paralympics venues.

In February 2023, Albanese Government entered a 50/50 co-funding of $3.435 billion with the Palaszczuk Queensland Government with capped investment for the Brisbane Arena ($2.5 billion) and funding for 16 new or upgraded venues ($1.87 billion)

The recently elected Crisafulli Queensland Government announced a 100 day review of facility planning. Albanese Government welcomed the review due to ” global conditions are resulting in cost and labour market pressure for all jurisdictions. These have been evident in the construction sector, and it is a good time to review plans to ensure current and likely future conditions are taken into account.” The Queensland Government announced it would not be used Australian Government funding for the construction of the Brisbane Arena and would request that the $2.5 billion for other facilities.

Cost of Living

Cost of living has impacted in sport participation. Australian Sports Foundation Clubs Under Pressure report found that “rising costs and falling revenue are pushing almost one in five (18%) community sporting clubs to the brink of collapse.” What will the ALP or Coalition policies will be presented to make community sport viable ?

Sport Policy Announcements

ALP

The ALP did not present a sport policy at the 2022 Federal election. However, the Albanese Government has made the following major sport commitments and plans:

Coalition

The Coalition policy Get Australia Back on Track Policy notes sport in two areas:

  • supporting the arts and Australian cultural, sporting and recreational pursuits to foster and enhance community wellbeing.
  • Banning gambling advertising during the broadcasting of live sport.

In August 2023, Coalition following the Matildas fourth place at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup committed $250 million in funding over four years for community sporting infrastructure across the country.

The Australian Greens

Sport and Physical Recreation Policy as amended by National Conference June 2023.

Leader Appearances at Sports Events

These appearances highlight leaders desire to be associated with sport and the community. It also includes wearing sporting clothing – John Howard was often seen wearing a variety of national sports team tracksuits. Appearances in 2025 listed.

Anthony Albanese

In previous years, Prime Minister Albanese attended the cricket test match in Sydney and the Australian Tennis Open. Albanese was booed whilst attending the 2024 Australian Tennis Open. He did not attend these events in 2025.

  • 2 January 2025 – Albanese hosted the Australian and Indian cricket teams in Sydney prior to fifth test. (Hosting the Australian cricket team prior to Sydney test in as annual event).
  • 10 January 2025 – Albanese turning sod at Alkimos Aquatic and Recreation Centre ($30m commitment from previous election).
  • 21 February 2025 – Albanese announcing commitment to St George Illawarra Community and High Performance Centre commitment.
  • 25 February 2025 – Albanese hosted backyard cricket event fror Lifeline at Kirribilli House.
  • 9 March 2025 – Albanese wearing Cricket Australia jacket when visiting Gallipoli Barracks in Brisbane following crash of two army vehicles.
  • 16 March 2025 – Albanese announcing $5 m commitment to Bruce Park Pavilion in Dunkley electorate,
  • 29 March 2025 – Albanese visits a gym in Dutton’s electorate,
  • 29 March 2025 – Albanese visits Eden Monoro to announce  $16 m to upgrade the Bega Valley War Memorial Swimming Pool.
  • 1 April 2025 – Albanese at Drysdale Football & Netball Club for $5.45 m commitment.
  • 2 April 2025 – Albanese met with champion golfer Greg Norman for dinner in Melbourne.
  • 20 April 2025 – Albanese appeared on Sunday Footy Show and talk about importance of free to air television and participated in passing competition.
  • 3 May 2025 – Albanese visited the Melbourne Cricket Ground on election day to hold his final media event. Commented that he was looking for “back-toback wins” and “It was time-on in the fourth quarter).

Peter Dutton

  • 13 January 2025 – Dutton at Malvern Cricket Ground for election commitment.
  • 22 January 2025 – Dutton at Goulburn Hockey Complex for election commitment.
  • 22 March 2025 – Dutton at Symmons Plains Raceway for election commitment.
  • 5 April 2025 – Dutton kicks a ball into cameraman whilst making an election commitment at Cazalaly Arena, Darwin.
  • 12 April 2025 – Dutton meets boxer Danny Green to announce ‘Stop the Coward Punch” funding.
  • 18 April 2025 – Dutton attends Sikh Games  in Sydney.
  • 29 April 2025 – Dutton visit to announce  $3.5 Million for Bob Proudfoot Pavilionat St Georges Basin interupted by nuclear protest.

Election Commitments

In resesarching party and candidate commitments on Facebook, it is very apparent that visiting sports grounds and clubs is used by candidates to engage with their electorate.

Notes

  • bolded electorate indicates held by party making the commitment. This list has been created through internet searches, candidate Facebook posts and feeback and is likely to be not exhaustive
  • ? indicates no amount made with funding commitment.

ALP Commitments

ALP candidates were not associated with many sport facility election commitments due to successful commitments in 2022 and the Play Our Way program. It was reported that $1.7 billion in community grants were announced in the lead up to the election by the Albanese Government..

ALP won the election and it is expected that these commitments will be fulfilled in the next term of government. The majority of commitments were made in electorates that they held.

Coalition Commitments

Election Commitments Summary

Table 1 Election Commitments by State/Territory & Electorates

ALP Commitments
Total Number by State (Numer of Electorates)		Coalition Commitments
Total State Number (Numer of Electorates)		Number of Electorates by State
ACT – 3 (3)ACT – 0 (0)3
NSW – 37 (20)NSW – 91 (34)46
NT – 1 (1)NT – 4 (2)2
QLD – 13 (7)QLD – 144 (21)30
SA – 9 (6)SA – 30 (7)10
TAS – 6 (4)TAS – 38 (5)5
VIC – 46 (27)VIC – 125 (28) 38
WA – 9 (8)WA – 46 (12)16
124 commitments in 76 electorates478 commitments in 109 electorates150 electorates

Table 2 Number of Election Commitments by Electorates

PartyNumber in Electorate (party holding electorate in bold)
ALP7 – Eden Monaro ; 6 – Blair,  Shotland, Bruce ; 3 –Gilmore, Bendigo, Corangamite, Dunkley, Flinders, Isaacs, Maribyrnong, Lyons
Coalition16 – Wannon ; 13 – Bass, Longman, Boothby ; 11- Braddon, 12 – Deakin ; 9 – Dawson,  Ryan, Lyons, Chisholm ; 8 – Hughes, Flynn ; 7 – Petrie, McPherson, Moncrieff, Bonner, Bowman, Sturt, Bullwinkel (new), Tangey, Aston ;  6 – Eden Monaro, Gilmore, Brisbane, Forde, Leichardt, Lilley, Wide Bay, Hasluck, Moore

Sports Organisations Election Priorities

Summary

  • There has been significant community sport facility funding since 2019 due to Coalition and ALP programs and election commitments. In 2025, Coalition made over three times more sport facility commitments in electorates that could be considered marginal/contestable. Election commitments to upgrade change rooms was a dominant factor. The Coalition did not retain or gain many marginal/contestable electorates – this suggests that community sport facility commitments are unlikely to sway voters. Those in “safe” electorates continue to miss out on election commitments – surely many of these electorates have facilities that need to be upgraded.
  • Despite the Coalition making a significant number of community sport facility commitments, Dutton rarely was seen at a community sport facility. During 2022 federal election, Prime Minister Morrison used this backdrop over 30 times. Dutton was seen more at a petrol bowser due to their policy to cut petrol excise.
  • Sports gambling advertising was rarely raised during the election campaign.
  • Albanese Government made three major sports facility commitments in 2022 – Brisbane Arena and 2032 Olympic venues ($3.435 bn), Macquarie Point Stadium ($240 m) and Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) Redevelopment ($249.7 m). The AIS Redevelopment was approved by Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works on 25 March 2025. These commitments are likely to proceed but Queensland Tasmanian governments are still deciding the cost of several these major sport facilities.
  • Albanese and Dutton’s use of sport was more limited than the 2022 federal election but ALP and Coalition candidates used it extensively particularly those in marginal/contestable electorates.

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2 responses to “Sport and the 2025 Australian Federal Election – Final”

  1. Re-elected Albanese Government:  Reflecting on Upcoming Sport Issues  from a Historical Perspective – Australian Sport Reflections

    […] expertise in reviewing and managing community sport facility grants. The Albanese government has over 125 community sport election commitments to fulfill after successfully retaining government.  These commitments have issues in terms […]

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  2. Federal and State Governments funding of AFL and NRL High Performance Training Centres – Updated 28 May 2025 – Australian Sport Reflections

    […] professional clubs were in a competition to develop state of the art facilities. But the 2022 and 2025 federal elections resulted in the Coalition and ALP making several more commitments. The arguments […]

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