Most disadvantaged in SA fall behind in sport participation
Apr 19, 2012
Dan van Holst Pellekaan MP
Shadow Minister for Regional Development
Shadow Minister for Sport & Recreation
Shadow Minister for Racing
Most disadvantaged in SA fall behind in sport participation
The most disadvantaged South Australians have the second worst sport participation rate in Australia, according to the latest ABS statistics.
The statistics also revealed a huge disparity between the rich and the poor when it comes to sport participation in SA.
Low sport participation rates in low socio-economic areas is concerning and the Weatherill Labor Government appears to have no strategy to address this problem.
“The large gap in sports participation between the rich and the poor is alarming, but the failure of the Labor Government to recognise and respond to this statistic is even more alarming,” Shadow Minister for Recreation and Sport Dan van Holst Pellekaan said.
“Sports participation has a record of improving health and also means that young people are less likely to be involved in criminal activities, which are problems more prevalent in low socio-economic areas.
“People from low socio-economic areas have the most to gain from sports participation – that’s why it is so concerning that South Australia is falling behind the national average in this area.
“Minister Kenyon bragged about our state’s overall participation rate in Parliament, but forgot to add that well-off South Australians are over-represented and people from low socio-economic groups are missing out.
“We know he supports lizard racing, but what has Sports Minister Kenyon done to support low income South Australians?”