Another broken promise - Rudd scraps after school activities program
1st June, 2010
The Rudd Government’s decision to cancel funding for the popular Active After-School Communities (AASC) program is yet another example of Labor’s hypocrisy, Federal Member for Wide Bay Warren Truss said today.“Another day, another broken promise. Once again, Kevin Rudd has been caught out being all talk, no action — this time on Mr Rudd’s so called ‘war on obesity’,” Mr Truss said.
The AASC provides primary school-aged children with access to free sport and other structured physical activity programs in the after-school time slot between 3.00pm to 5.30pm.
The program has been well regarded in Wide Bay schools and aims to engage inactive children in sport and other physical activities. Through a positive and fun experience, the program inspires them to join a local sporting club.
The Rudd Government has announced that funding for this popular program will conclude at the end of this year.
“Kevin Rudd’s rhetoric on obesity and encouraging healthy living has not been matched with action to improve children’s health, confidence and social skills.
“Physical activity can play a major role in maintaining healthy body weight and reducing the chances of developing heart disease and diabetes. Some children are not spending as much time engaged in physical activity, particularly after school, as children in previous generations.
“There are studies which suggest that about 40 per cent of children are missing out on outside school hours sporting activity.
“It is incredible that Kevin Rudd can find $38 million in emergency funds for an advertising campaign over Labor’s great big new super tax on mining, yet school communities across the Wide Bay will be starved of funds to keep this healthy initiative alive.
“The Rudd Labor Government has its priorities wrong. Kevin Rudd thinks nothing of spending taxpayer funds on Labor’s bungled home insulation scheme, the rorted school hall program and on political advertising to serve Labor’s political means, but now the Rudd Labor Government refuses to find the funds to support the worthwhile AASC health program.”
