ENOUGH TO FEED AN ARMY
ScoMo sends in $34m and the troops to ensure good as Gold Games
ABOUT 2000 soldiers will be on the Gold Coast next year to help keep the 2018 Commonwealth Games safe. Treasurer Scott Morrison last night also pledged $11.7m to other Games-related agencies and $15.5m to support athlete preparation.
THE Gold Coast’s 2018 Commonwealth Games were given a $45.9 million boost for security, health and broadcasting in last night’s Federal Budget.
The bulk of the funding goes to the Australian Defence Force, which has been allocated $34.2 million over two years for the event and its Queen’s Baton Relay, which arrives in Australia on Christmas Eve.
A further $11.7 million of existing agency funds over two years will go to “other related services associated with stag- ing the Games”, spread across six Government departments and agencies over two years.
They include unspecified amounts, marked “not for publication”, for the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, Department of Health, Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, Australian Communications and Media Authority and Attorney General’s Department.
The Budget has also been revised for the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority, which was last year allocated $1.5 million over two years – enough to carry out just 750 of more than 2600 targeted tests required in the lead-up to the Games .
Organisers were hopeful last night’s announcement would provide a further boost.
However, the amount was removed from the 2017-18 documents and marked “not for publication”.
ASADA’s former CEO Ben McDevitt, who finished in the role last Friday, said ASADA hoped to establish a taskforce with the Commonwealth Games Federation and the World Anti-Doping Authority to call on other nations’ resources to expand the targeted testing scheme.
There was no sign of any new allocation for immigration and border protection to boost checking of people travelling to Australia for the event, or to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, which will be charged with regulating airspace above Games venues.
However, the Budget left the door open for more funding if required, stating “further support for the Games may be provided on a cost-recovered basis subject to negotiations with the Queensland Government”.
Games chairman Peter Beattie last night welcomed the support.
“We’re delighted with the funding for the ADF,” he said. “It’s a really clear sign to anyone who’s interested in coming to the Games that they are going to be a safe Games.
“We’re pleased to get any support from the Federal Government that can help make the Games a success.”
The $45.9 million is in addition to $15.5 million in new funds to improve the performance of Australian athletes in the lead-up to the Games via the Australian Sport Commission and is on top of $158.5 million allocated in the 2014-15 Budget.
The defence force funding will see 2000 military personnel join an army of Queensland and Federal Police, as well as private security contractors.