Almost $2m in left over sports vouchers used for public sector pay rise

Almost $2m in unused NT government sports vouchers has been used to bankroll a pay rise for public sector staff.

Nearly $2m in unclaimed NT government sports vouchers redirected towards a public servant pay increase could have been spent in remote communities, a former Don Dale detainee and inspirational Alice Springs boxing mentor says.

A total of $5.449m was allocated by the government for the Sports Vouchers Scheme in 2021-22.

However, $1.8m in unredeemed vouchers was redirected to “meet NTPS EBA bonus costs”, Territory Families’ 21-22 annual report revealed.

A Territory Families spokesman confirmed with this publication the money went towards a two per cent pay increase for public servants.

A further spokesman for the government said unspent funds from its programs “may be redirected to ensure the most appropriate overall fiscal outcomes”.

Every child that is enrolled in school is eligible to receive two $100 vouchers each year to help with the cost of participating in sports, recreation or cultural activities.

Former champion boxer Jason Lord, of Arrernte Community Boxing Academy, is disappointed close to $2m in unspent sports vouchers was used for a public sector pay increase. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Children up to five years of age not enrolled in school can also access two $100 vouchers annually to help with the cost of swimming lessons, while remote schools can also access vouchers.

More than 2500 vouchers were left unspent compared to the 31,405 that were used in 2020-21.

However, Arrernte Community Boxing Academy manager Jason Lord said nearly $2m was “a lot of money” that could have helped the organisation “branch out and do a lot more in the community”.

Mr Lord said it was “sad to hear” the money had been spent on public servant pay instead of being directed back into sporting and community organisations.

Lord would like to see the unspent sports voucher money used in remote communities. Picture: Kevin Farmer

“I think spread out between programs or services like us, any part of that would have been handy for us,” Mr Lord said.

“We could take this program remote, there’s a lot more we can do, we can expand a lot further, we need a vehicle to do a lot of the stuff we do, and definitely pay the volunteers.”

A Territory Families spokesman could not say if there had been a decrease in the uptake of the scheme in remote areas.

“Remote operates a bit differently in that we engage providers to deliver activity so people don’t get a physical voucher,” the spokesman said.

He said “every eligible Territorian who applies for a sports voucher will get one”.

“There has never been a shortage of funding for this scheme,” the spokesman said.

To apply for a sports voucher visit grantsnt.nt.gov.au