Australia’s mass participation sporting event leaders say they were short-changed by Tuesday’s Federal Budget as the sector continues to reel from a total shutdown because of COVID-19.
The Australian Mass Participation Sporting Event Alliance (AMPSEA) had sought a $48 million stimulus package to help the hundreds of small businesses in the industry who in 2019 delivered 8,500+ events across Australia.
Today they are in severe financial risk due to events being either cancelled or postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The industry body has been lobbying the federal government since May for the stimulus package to allow it to get back delivering events that have more than 3.5 million Australians a year active and outside, improving their physical and mental health.
While many industries are now in recovery mode and will benefit from the tax exemptions put forward in Josh Frydenberg’s budget, the mass participation sporting event industry is still in survival mode, as COVID restrictions mean that across much of the country the industry is still in complete shutdown.
Without support for the industry, over 50 per cent of event businesses will not survive beyond 2020, with new research showing a higher number of events face extinction.
AMPSEA Chair Chris Heverin said Tuesday’s budget, which leans heavily toward an infrastructure-led national recovery, ignores the influence of an industry that ordinarily employs more than 11,000 people and contributes $1.1 billion to the economy each year.
“Events such as marathons, triathlons, cycle events, fun runs and Ironman events and scores of others are hugely beneficial for Australia through the creation of local jobs, improved community health, and the delivery of critical cash flow for regional economies,” Mr Heverin said.
“To be honest, it’s baffling why we were left out of the mix, particularly when we’re seeing a near 100 per cent loss of revenue, alongside the losses being experienced by tourism and hospitality and transport operators and our charity partners in the event regions.
“While AMPSEA applauds the support announced for music and business events, mass participation sporting events have been overlooked.
“With Federal assistance we can be a key player in the country’s revival, but we can’t help but think it was an opportunity lost by the government on Tuesday night,” he said.
AMPSEA proposed the stimulus would be provided to events through a grants program allocated to COVID-Safe events on merit.
AMPSEA ambassador, Olympian and distance running champion Steve Moneghetti, said the events sector has an important role to play – figuratively and literally – in getting Australia back on its feet.
“As advocates for our industry we want to emerge from this crisis having supported the people who work in the sector and rely on events to survive, while lending a hand to Australia’s economic and social recovery and the health and wellbeing of its people,” Moneghetti said.
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