Sport Australia spent $14m on consultants despite Olympic funding freeze

Sport Australia, the body that cut all funding to the Olympic synchronised swimming program, table tennis and men’s soccer, forked out $14 million on consultants in the last 12 months.

All funding to the Olympic synchronised swimming program has been cut.

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The sporting body that decided it couldn’t afford to spend $50,000 on Australia’s synchronised swimming program forked out $14 million on consultants in the last 12 months.

Sport Australia’s consultancy bill ballooned by nearly $1 million from the previous year and staff racked up more than $2.5 million on airfares and hotel bills.

One consultant involved in the funding cut decision was even paid $280,000.

It comes after The Daily Telegraph revealed all funding to the Olympic synchronised swimming program, table tennis and men’s soccer was axed because Sports Australia thought it was a poor investment.

Australian Olympic Committee CEO Matt Carroll said the cuts would damage our chances at the Tokyo Olympics. Picture: AAP Image/Lukas Coch

They also axed a Paralympic program but have refused to name the sport.

Sports Australia defended spending millions on consultants saying they were needed to engage in “specialist work”.

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“Sport Australia uses consultants to lead specialist work in areas across the business including high performance, participation and building sport sector capability,” a spokesman said.

Australian Olympic Committee CEO Matt Carroll said the cuts would damage our chances at the Tokyo Olympics and called for the funds to be restored.

“We strongly urged the government to provide funding directly to the sports through Sport Australia,” Mr Carroll said.

Table tennis funding has also been cut. Picture: Steve Tanner

“Sports that are lifting performance through well thought-out strategic plans, employing coaches and driving improvement in their systems have found themselves abandoned or facing great uncertainty.

“It would be naive to think that high performance athletes can enjoy their best preparation when there is financial pressure on coaching, programs, competitions and rising costs.

“The AOC will continue to argue that investment by government in sport is no different to

investment in any other industry — the dividends are different but no less important for the economy and the country, in fact more important.”

Mr Carroll was also concerned that four sporting programs — including athletics and gymnastics — had 30 per cent of their funding frozen pending a review.

The funding decisions were approved by Sport Australia after being requested by Australian Institute of Sport director Peter Conde earlier this year.

Sport Australia decided it couldn’t afford to spend $50,000 on Australia’s synchronised swimming program.

It is understood consultants were hired to help assess program efficiencies and contributed to the decision to axe the four sports.

Mr Conde released a statement defending his decision to keep details of the axed Paralympic program secret.

“Having advised these sports and organisations about our funding decisions, we are giving them time to digest the information and advise their athletes and stakeholders before public announcements are made,” he said.

“We will consult with these sports and other system partners on the transitions required as a result of these decisions.

“We are confident that these changes will not impact on Olympic or Paralympic podium success.”