Free club registration: Greens sports plan
Parents would score one free season of club sport registration for their children under a Greens election pitch.
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Every Queenslander under 18 would have their club sport registration costs paid by the government, for one season per year, under a Greens plan.
The party said the money would be paid directly to clubs to avoid administration costs.
Struggling parents would also score $150 vouchers to buy sports equipment and every club could apply for a $10,000 grant to help upgrade facilities and cope with the extra registrations that would be generated through free sport.
The $500 million annual cost of the plan would be met by the Greens’ proposed 0.05 per cent levy on the big five banks, which it estimated would raise $1.2 billion per year.
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Greens MP for the Indooroopilly-based seat of Maiwar, Michael Berkman, said the average family had to find $775 per season to pay for just one child’s sporting costs.
“A family with three children could end up having to pay over $2000 just so every child can play - that’s just too expensive for too many families,’’ Mr Berkman said.
“A footy club can be the heart and soul of a community and it’s a tragedy that kids and families miss out because they can’t afford the fees.
“It should be a right for every Queensland kid to play organised sport, regardless of their parents’ ability to pay.
“Organised sport is crucial for children to get fit, make friends, have fun and learn new life skills - just like health and education, sport is an essential service so it should be free.
“Our plan will transform hundreds of thousands of children’s lives for the better, save families thousands of dollars a year, and inject hundreds of millions of dollars into communities across Queensland at a time when they desperately need it.”