QSport Sponsors Annual Luncheon

Thank you for the opportunity to speak this afternoon.

It is a pleasure to be here to acknowledge and thank each of you, for supporting QSport,

And, by extension, for supporting all sportsmen and women in Queensland.

For helping bring it into our living rooms,

For making our venues viable,

For generating jobs,

And for being a revenue stream to facilitate professional pay.

Many of you would already be aware of my vision to introduce more Queenslanders to sport, and keep them a part of our broader sports ecosystem for longer.

It’s outlined in the Palaszczuk Government’s $1.3 billion Activate! Queensland strategy,

Our 10-year plan for sport and recreation in Queensland.

We’ve set out specific goals —

Like to increase the percentage of active Queenslanders from 41% to 60%,

To achieve gender equality in pay, prize money, and participation on industry boards.

Or to make life easier for volunteers —

reducing the administrative burden so they can deliver a more quality experience for players and spectators.

These are important goals that will deliver huge outcomes for Queenslanders.

Important goals that I think we all agree that Government couldn’t reach alone.

Which is why Activate! Queensland is a plan built on collaboration and partnerships.

Partnerships between clubs,

Partnerships across government and levels of government

And partnerships with industry —

Which is where you come in.

By supporting QSport and their mission to promote and develop organised sport in Queensland,

You are helping to grow our grassroots and to champion our champions —

A truly worthy undertaking.

But I know that this is a two-way street.

I don’t think it’s cynical to recognise that partnerships have to benefit both sides —

that’s why it’s called a partnership.

Maybe you’re seeking to promote your brand.

Or maybe you just want to see our athletes in maroon excel because of a State-based vendetta.

It’s okay…I understand that we all have our reasons.

And I understand that it means that, to keep these partnerships working for both sides,

You already know that we have to make sure that we’re delivering a worthy product.

Some of you may see an active and robust grassroots sporting culture as a worthy product,

And others may see it as Queenslanders achieving elite success.

Whichever way you see it Activate! Queensland is a comprehensive plan that is already enhancing our State’s output,

Positions sport front-and-centre in all Queenslanders’ conversations,

And deliver something that our whole State can agree is a sporting product to be proud of.

I’m certainly proud of the programs and initiatives that we’ve announced thus far,

Which will drive the development of elite sport in Queensland.

Since it was launched in July, Activate! Queensland has already seen the announcement of -

• A $10 million boost to the elite Queensland Academy of Sport facilities at QSAC with a redevelopment to come;
• As well as the creation of important new roles at the Academy to drive our Tokyo 2020 Olympics crusade;
• An $18.3 million National Cricket Campus in Brisbane that will become the home of Australia’s Men’s and Women’s Cricket teams;
• A $67 million AFLW Stadium in Springfield called ‘The Reserve’;
• And a $30 million upgrade, right here at the Gabba,

Just to name a few.

We’re also investigating the feasibility of a potential 2032 Olympics in South East Queensland,

As you would well know,

Which would cause a boom for sport in Queensland.

Now, I think it’s important to note that we’re not investing in elite sport just to beat our chests;

But because success breeds success.

It gets audiences excited and brings people into the sport —

Just remember at how those seats in the stadium behind you filled this year,

When the Lions won game after game.

But we’re not just investing in the top, we’re supporting our grassroots too.

Earlier this month, in Parliament, I opened the Active Clubs program —

Which delivers funding of up to $2,000 for clubs to buy equipment or training —]

And, just last week, I launched the Palaszczuk Government’s new sporting infrastructure program —

Active Community Infrastructure.

It’s a complete overhaul of the current funding process that does away with competitive grants,

In favour of outcomes and collaborations.

We’re looking for projects that link together clubs with community groups, with schools,

And, perhaps even with people like you,

To build active hubs that encourage participation in sport.

It’s a new way of doing things that does away with the big list of little cheques in favour of big ideas.

And expressions of interest will be open until the end of November.

And through our Active Industry Fund,

we’ve begun developing meaningful partnerships between State Sporting Organisations and the Palaszczuk Government.

We’re doing away with the transactional relationship of the past,

And working together to deliver better outcomes for players, spectators, and sponsors.

Netball was the first sport to join with us,

And Cricket signed on just last week.

Over the next few months, four more lead sports will partner with us —

As we look forward to a new era of sport in Queensland.

There’s a lot going on for sport in our great State,

And Queenslanders are lucky to have Peter and the QSport team alongside them.

So, I’d like to thank each and every one of you for backing them in —

For backing in the team behind our teams,

The team that’s helping us deliver better sporting outcomes for all of Queensland.

Enjoy your afternoon.