A fit for purpose Australian Institute of Sport

The Albanese Government has announced an independent review into the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) Infrastructure to help guide investment in sporting facilities to ensure the AIS continues to best support high-performance athletes.

The review will be led by Ms Erin Flaherty and Ms Robyn Smith OAM.

The review will look at what facilities the AIS needs to achieve its purpose and deliver on its responsibilities to make sure it can support high performance athletes with a national approach that drives international competitiveness and success at major sporting events.

Those events include the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

It will consider the optimal location for the AIS, the level of investment required, including appropriate accommodation facilities for athletes and staff, and international best practice.

Readiness for athlete use with sufficient lead time for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, including infrastructure sector workforce readiness and availability, will also be assessed.

The Albanese Government has been considering the best approach for support of high-performance sport as part of the green and gold runway through to Brisbane 2032 and the AIS is a critical feature of support for our outstanding athletes.

The independent reviewers will be supported by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts, with further support from the Department of Health and Aged Care. 

The review will provide a report to the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government and Minister for Aged Care and Sport in late 2023, with options for consideration by government.

The Government intends to release the findings of the review once it has an opportunity to consider them.

The review’s terms of reference are set out below.

Quotes attributable to Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King MP:

“The independent review of the AIS Infrastructure will give the Government a clear-eyed view on priority investment in the AIS in the lead-up to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games and beyond.

“This is part of a national approach that supports international competitiveness and achieving success at upcoming major sporting events, including the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

 “Due to the fiscal situation we’ve found ourselves in after a decade of neglect and mismanagement from the former Government, we will carefully and responsibly consider all of the report’s recommendations and advice.”

Quotes attributable to Federal Sport Minister Anika Wells MP:

“I welcome this Independent Review of AIS Infrastructure.

The Review and its outcomes will support and enhance Australian sport by providing advice on strategic investment in high performance facilities that align with Australia’s High Performance 2032+ Sport Strategy.”

About the Reviewers:

Erin Flaherty is Chair of the National Intermodal Corporation and sits on the Board of Venues NSW.  She has been involved in the development of the NSW Stadia Strategy and has over 30 years’ experience in the private and Government sectors, especially in major infrastructure projects.

Robyn Smith OAM is the CEO of Sport Inclusion Australia, on the board of the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Organising Committee and an International Paralympic Committee Governing Board Member at large. She is an advocate for the positive impacts of sport, especially for people who are underrepresented because of disability.

Terms of Reference

Preamble:

The Independent Review of the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) infrastructure will inform how best to invest in sports facilities to ensure the AIS remains fit-for-purpose in supporting high performance athletes. This is in the context of a national approach, that supports international competitiveness and achieving success at upcoming major sporting events, including in the lead up to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games and beyond. The Review and its outcomes will support and enhance Australian sport by providing advice on strategic investment in high performance facilities that align with Australia’s High Performance 2032+ Sport Strategy.

The Review:

1.  The Independent Review will examine the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), including its optimal location in the context of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games and the proposed revitalisation of the existing AIS campus, with reference but not limited to:
   
   
   
   a) what facilities are required for the AIS to achieve its purpose and to deliver on its responsibilities;
   
   
   
   b) business cases previously commissioned by ASC to date, in relation to the AIS facilities;
   
   
   
   c) targeted consultation with key stakeholders including state and territory governments, national sporting organisations, the Australian Olympic Committee, Paralympics Australia, current and prospective athletes, sporting peak bodies and industry;
   
   
   
   d) the AIS facilities required by Australian athletes for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games and major events in Australia, including from the following perspectives;
   
   
   
           i. for each major facility, the level of investment required (short and long-term, capital and operating costs), and commercial and financial options to achieve a sustainable funding model, including opportunities for cost recovery and co-investment;

                  ii. enhancing facilities available to high performance sport, with consideration of developments overseas in support of events such as the Paris and Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games;

                  iii.  appropriate facilities for accommodation for athletes and staff;

                  iv. readiness for athlete use with sufficient lead up time for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games (including infrastructure sector workforce readiness and availability); and

                   v. international best practice in comparable countries (e.g., Japan, Canada, the United Kingdom, relevant European models, and New Zealand) and possible financing and funding mechanisms for AIS facilities, including investments by members of the National Institute Network.

        e) the objectives and functions as established in the Australian Sports Commission Act 1989, and other relevant sport strategies

2.       The Review will be conducted by Independent Reviewers with relevant skills and experience and will be supported logistically by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts, with support from the Office for Sport.

3.       The Review will provide a report to the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government and Minister for Aged Care and Sport in the last quarter of 2023. It should provide distinct and prioritised options for consideration by government.