CORONAVIRUS
— COMMUNITY SPORT
194. Mr P.J. RUNDLE to the Minister for Sport and
Recreation:
I refer to the government's health announcements
today, particularly about fitness venues and community sport. Can the minister clarify ongoing spectator
arrangements for all community sport—both indoor and outdoor and both
regional and metropolitan—that is looking to commence the winter season
in the coming weeks?
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN
replied:
I thank the member for the question.
As the member would be aware, the Premier and Minister for
Health today announced that current level 2 measures will be eased from 12.01 am
on Thursday, 31 March. That will mean that we will revert to level 1 measures.
As highlighted in the announcement, a variety
of stadium-based entities will revert to 75 per cent capacity—for
example, Optus Stadium, RAC Arena and others. The level 2 requirements
for community sport will be relaxed to level 1. The community sport
requirements will be in line with the level 1 directions that have previously
been published. The expectation is that a variety
of community sport opportunities will be delivered under level 1 directions. As
the member is probably aware, under level 2 restrictions, forward-facing
stadia are limited to 50 per cent occupancy. In the case of some of our
community-based places—football clubs, for example—that have
set seating, they are currently required to operate at only 50 per cent
capacity. That will change under the level 1 restrictions.
A member interjected.
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN: Exactly, that is going to be
important.
One of the challenges for community sport, as the member
would be aware, is the safety aspects that have been identified by the Chief
Health Officer. If there is no forward-facing seating arrangement, for example,
the risks associated with people who are not
masked mingling and moving amongst each other becomes heightened. That is
why some of those restrictions have been in place. I understand that there are
places throughout Western Australia, particularly in country regions and other
regions, where the sporting fixtures for winter sport in particular are
imminent. Certainly, we expect that most of those seasons will commence in
early April.
A member interjected.
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN: Where?
A member interjected.
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN: At Wyalkatchem —
A member interjected.
The SPEAKER: Member, there may be an opportunity for a supplementary
question. Could we bring this to a close?
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN: The directions with regard to community sport
will always be influenced by the directions of the Chief Health Officer.
Being from a country town, I know the practice in the country, whereby people
park their cars around the outside of the venue and beep their car horn when
their side —
Mr M. McGowan interjected.
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN: I played for the Three Springs
Bombers actually.
The SPEAKER: Premier, this could open up another
half-hour debate!
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN: I could start going into my
extensive history of sport, but I will not.
The SPEAKER: As much as we would enjoy that, please do
not. I am rather keen to give the member for Roe a supplementary shortly.
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN: I assure the member that as per the directions
that will come from the determination today, the interests of community
sport will be very carefully kept in mind; but, of course, they will be
influenced by the best health advice from the Chief Health Officer. Moving back
to level 1 restrictions will allow greater flexibility in the provision of
community sport and more general sport activity across the state.