NSW budget 2017: kids’ play plan: fitness to help tackle fatness

NSW is cracking down on childhood obesity by launching an incentive to enrol kids in sport and fitness activities.

The NSW government is cracking down on childhood obesity by launching an incentive for parents to enrol their kids in sport and fitness activities, described by Treasurer Dominic Perrottet as the “soul” of his debut budget.

The Active Kids Rebate will be issued via a voucher worth $100 a child, which can be claimed ­annually from January 1 next year to help reduce the cost of sport ­registration or membership fees for after-school and weekend sport.

The rebate will cost $207 million over four years as part of a $401m sport budget. It is not means-tested so that families in any wage bracket will be able to ­access the money.

Mr Perrottet defended the ­rebate being non-means tested, saying every NSW citizen paid their taxes and the initiative would provide parents with a reward for ­encouraging their children to be active.

He said the measure was a “wise investment” aimed at achieving one of Premier Gladys Berejiklian’s priority targets of reducing childhood obesity by 5 per cent over the next 10 years.

“Tearing around the sports ground is the best thing about being a kid, but sports registration and lessons fees can really add up for families,” Mr Perrottet said. “This budget will lower the cost for every schoolchild in NSW, making sport more accessible, helping families out and ­reducing barriers to healthy ­activity.”

Given tonight’s much anticipated State of Origin rugby league clash between NSW and Queensland, Mr Perrottet quipped that the Active Kids Rebate was a sneaky way for the government to ensure NSW won the series for the foreseeable future.

Families will be able to claim the rebate on registration and membership costs as well as fees for sports including netball, football and basketball, swimming lessons and other activities such as gymnastics and athletics. A list of eligible activities will be onlined after community consultation.

“We would love to see more young people participating in sport — we know how promoting active habits early is a key factor for ensuring a generation of healthy kids and tackling rising obesity rates,” Sport Minister Stuart Ayres said.

Grants to surf lifesaving clubs will be doubled to $8m over four years, and $40m will go to the ­National Rugby League Centres of Excellence Program to support elite training and community ­facilities.

Mr Ayres also announced that the government would be rolling out more than 2500 defibrillators to local sporting clubs across the state as part of a $4m initiative aimed at transforming sport spectators into first responders who could ultimately save lives.

NSW government sport and recreation centres will share in a $6m funding pool for upgrades and Wollongong’s WIN Stadium will get a $5.4m upgrade to its northern stand.