Opposition leader Steven Miles backs petition to save FairPlay vouchers for Mackay clubs

A petition to save sport vouchers for Qld kids has garnered thousands of signatures as the opposition leader warns local sporting clubs will pay the cost.

Opposition Leader Steven Miles attended a press conference warning the LNP not to scrap the FairPlay voucher program.

Opposition Leader Steven Miles has urged the Crisafulli government to save sport and recreation vouchers for Queensland families as up to 200,000 tickets hang in the balance.

It comes after a petition set up by the Labor government to keep the FairPlay program, which allowed families to access a $200 voucher to help pay for children’s sport and recreation activities, garnered 45,000 signatures in two weeks.

In a press conference Mr Miles accused the LNP government of staying silent on the issue spreading concerns changes could be made to the eligibility of the voucher.

“We’re concerned the Crisafulli government either won’t continue the vouchers or might reintroduce that very strict means test,” he said.

Mr Miles said thousands of vouchers hung in the balance.

Last year, the state Labor Government announced it would expand the FairPlay vouchers program from $150 to $200 while also boosting the number of vouchers from 50,000 to 200,000.

“The healthcare card holder’s income level is very, very low, and that would exclude most families,” he said.

During the press conference, Mackay mother of three, Ellen Madden said the vouchers saved her up to $1000 yearly in sports fees for her children and that it made a huge difference in keeping her children active throughout the year.

“You’re coming off Christmas, and then it’s back to school. It’s schoolbooks, it’s sometimes laptops, depending on what grade you’re a student and then all the sports kick off,” she said.

Premier David Crisafulli speaking beside Adrian Young (CEO Harrup Park), Shelly Welsh (Mackay Netball) and MP Nigel Dalton at Great Barrier Reef Arena following a press conference on Friday, May 30.

Ms Madden, whose children play at the Mackay Lions Soccer Club said the club almost doubled their junior numbers following the rollout of the FairPlay vouchers.

“We can’t say for sure that’s from the vouchers, but you would think it would definitely have something to do with that,” she said.

“I know a lot of families talk about just how much it costs to keep their kids in sport. “

This masthead asked the Premier’s office whether the vouchers would be continued by the LNP government.

A spokeswoman for the Premier didn’t respond to the question but instead claimed the FairPlay vouchers were started by their government and stopped by the Labor government.

Opposition Leader Stephen Miles attending a press conference at the Mackay Lions Soccer Club with local Mackay youth speaking on a petition to urge the LNP to reinstate the FairPlay vouchers program. June 6, 2025

“We are a government that believes in doing everything we can for Queenslanders suffering under Labor’s cost of living crisis and are looking forward to delivering for Queenslanders in the upcoming budget,” she said.

It wasn’t the only stop during Mr Miles’ visit to the region with the opposition leader stopping by Airlie Beach for the council’s Queensland Tourism Industry World Environment Day event.

Asked on his plan to win back voters coming into the next election, Mr Miles said he wanted to earn back the trust of locals in the region, while giving a shout out to Mackay’s Muscle Garden for Queensland Day.

“Mackay locals sent us a really clear message that they wanted us to do better and I intend to be here a lot over the next three and a half years now,” he said.

Originally published as Opposition leader Steven Miles backs petition to save FairPlay vouchers for Mackay clubs