30 January 2001

"GETTING SET" REPORT'S CREDIBILITY THREATENED BY WEIRD RECOMMENDATIONS

United Future leader, Hon Peter Dunne says that although the Getting Set report contains a good analysis of the problems confronting the development and promotion of sport in New Zealand, its overall credibility is threatened by some of its "weird" recommendations.

"I know that the Taskforce are all sports experts, and generally they have produced a worthwhile report which provides a thorough and constructive blueprint for the future."

"However, in some areas their enthusiasm has got in the way of common sense, and has led to some weird recommendations which risk the entire credibility of the report."

"For example, the recommendation of an extended school day to provide for sports participation has a decidedly Eastern-bloc feel to it, and is impractical, given students existing after school commitments, and New Zealanders decided aversion to compulsion."

"Also, some of the funding recommendations are truly bizarre."

"Why should new car buyers subsidise the promotion of walkways and cycleways?"

"What possible logical reason is there for overseas travellers to subsidise wilderness protection; or spectators at major events be required to support other sports organisations?" Mr Dunne asks.

Mr Dunne notes that the Government has made no decisions on the report as yet and will be considering it over the next few months.

"To help New Zealanders take this report seriously, and give it the attention it deserves, I hope the Government makes it clear very early on that it will not be adopting its more bizarre recommendations, otherwise the whole exercise runs the risk of being ignored as well-meaning but impractical."

"That would be a huge pity," he says.

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