28 November 2009

Any other athletes we want on the Government payroll?

| johnboy
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The ABC brings word of just why the ACT taxpayers are shelling out $50k to get Lauren Jackson to play a few games for the Capitals:

“It’s about community, it’s about vibrancy, it’s about supporting sport and it’s about supporting women’s sport,” he said.

“I proudly declare and stand by the decision … to support the greatest sportswoman that this city has ever produced and I think that Australia has ever produced.”

Mr Stanhope says it is interesting that no one complained when the Government paid far more money to bring Wallaby fly half Matt Giteau back to Canberra.

I hadn’t realised we were paying Gits directly too… How much is he on the teat for?

But basically people we appear to be slashing your money against the wall for the vibe of the thing.

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Deano said :

If she plays the full 11 games and averages about 30 minutes on the court each match, the 28-year-old will earn $666 per minute.

$666? Spooky.

astrojax said :

nice sloppery, then act could represent oz at the homeless world cup! now ya thinkin’…

Where do the participants sleep during the homeless world cup?

nice sloppery, then act could represent oz at the homeless world cup! now ya thinkin’…

Maybe we could train our homeless people up into athletes?

No Jon,

But 50k will buy a fair bit of overtime in an overstreched ward at Calvary or TCH…..

It’s all about priorities – and getting her (back) here shouldn’t be high on the list of priorities for our Gov.

Does the contract guarantee payments even if she gets (re)injured. Jackson was only in Canberra recently to get treatment at the AIS for recurring injuries. Doesn’t sound like a safe bet to me.

Pommy bastard4:01 pm 30 Nov 09

$50k on the immensly talented Ms Jackson is money well spent.

For $50k the mayor of Canberra could have had another atrocious piece of public art erected to celebrate his glory on the Gungalin parking lot, sorry, freeway, so let’s not be too hard on Sonic.

I just don’t get why people complain about these things.
Sure lets get rid of all our sporting teams, and watch as the population drops, less money then to pay for health and education.

We are really quite well off in Canberra generally and its easy to forget that. Sure there are homeless people here, but go visit somewhere else where homelessness is out of control to put psome perspective into it.

we could get boony here as minister responsible for licencing…

amarooresident29:46 am 30 Nov 09

Excuse the spelling mistakes and misuse of punctuation. I blame the fact that it is Monday morning.

amarooresident29:43 am 30 Nov 09

Ian said,

“Teams like the Capitals, Brumbies and Raiders are commercial ventures, and should stand or fall on their ability to compete both on field and commercially. If they can’t attract sponsorship from commercial sources, I don’t think they should be putting their hand out to govt.”

No ACT Government support = no Raiders, no Brumbies, no Capitals. Simple fact of life in a town this size. Canberra would be poorer if any or all of these teams were to fold. In fact, if you take the above statement to it’s logical conslusion then the Government shouldn’t support anything, includig the arts, community festivals or anyhting else that supports the community and cultural life of this city.

Mal Meninga?

Grrrr said :

Oh no, the govt is forking out one year’s APS5 wage on the world’s best female basketballer!!!!

Hope the complainers don’t figure out how much the AIS costs taxpayers.

Far too much in my view, and I love sport. I just don’t think in the overall scheme of what govts need to do with our money, spending as much as they do on sport is a good use of our money.

Re the govt paying for Giteau I’d like to find out more about that – all reports I’ve seen referred to a consortium of local businesses. Please do tell us Mr Stanhope.

Teams like the Capitals, Brumbies and Raiders are commercial ventures, and should stand or fall on their ability to compete both on field and commercially. If they can’t attract sponsorship from commercial sources, I don’t think they should be putting their hand out to govt.

Still for Jon Stanhope, the real payoff for investments in Lauren Jackson, Matt Giteau et al is the potential opportunities for him to take some of the credit if their teams go well, and to be photographed with them basking in the reflected glory from their success.

I’m happy for a percentage of our rates and taxes to go toward art, sculpture, sporting teams, libraries, festivals etc. It’s what makes our city a great place. We still manage to spend heaps on housing, hospitals, roads etc.

Grrrr said :

GardeningGirl said :

I don’t think this reflects well on her, if she chose to go on to bigger and better (and more lucrative) things that’s completely her business and it’s nice to see someone have such success, but changing her mind when enough money is waved under her nose isn’t a good look.

Changing her mind? Not a good look? Whachoo talkin bout Willis?

According to The Crimes, the owner of her Euro club has been murdered and the team’s status is up in the air, so we jumped at the chance to secure her participation at a rather-discounted price.

Just out of interest, will she still be receiving the money shes contracted to earn in Europe (despite the teams problems)? Also, if the Brumbies are able to cough up cash for sponsorships does this mean they can now pay back the ACT taxpayers for the 750k they used to bail themselves out of debt?

“to support the greatest sportswoman that this city has ever produced and I think that Australia has ever produced”

Isn’t she from Albury? And I would have thought Heather McKay could have a good claim on both counts (ok, she’s from Queanbeyan not Canberra, but close enough)

I disagree with Stanhope.

Heather McKay is still the greatest sportswoman this city has ever produced, if you count Queanbeyan as part of this city.

Well.. Now you mention it.. I’ve always missed Rod Marsh. Do you think if we paid his bus fair, he could come here and open a few exhibitions or something? That’d be nice.

GardeningGirl12:18 am 29 Nov 09

Grrrr said :

GardeningGirl said :

I don’t think this reflects well on her, if she chose to go on to bigger and better (and more lucrative) things that’s completely her business and it’s nice to see someone have such success, but changing her mind when enough money is waved under her nose isn’t a good look.

Changing her mind? Not a good look? Whachoo talkin bout Willis?

According to The Crimes, the owner of her Euro club has been murdered and the team’s status is up in the air, so we jumped at the chance to secure her participation at a rather-discounted price.

Okay, I accept it isn’t a change of mind but a change in circumstances. Taxpayer money still shouldn’t come into it.

GardeningGirl said :

I don’t think this reflects well on her, if she chose to go on to bigger and better (and more lucrative) things that’s completely her business and it’s nice to see someone have such success, but changing her mind when enough money is waved under her nose isn’t a good look.

Changing her mind? Not a good look? Whachoo talkin bout Willis?

According to The Crimes, the owner of her Euro club has been murdered and the team’s status is up in the air, so we jumped at the chance to secure her participation at a rather-discounted price.

Oh no, the govt is forking out one year’s APS5 wage on the world’s best female basketballer!!!!

Hope the complainers don’t figure out how much the AIS costs taxpayers.

georgesgenitals8:07 pm 28 Nov 09

I saw the title of this thread and thought it was referring to Stanhope.

GardeningGirl6:46 pm 28 Nov 09

I don’t think this reflects well on her, if she chose to go on to bigger and better (and more lucrative) things that’s completely her business and it’s nice to see someone have such success, but changing her mind when enough money is waved under her nose isn’t a good look.
As for the government finding the money when it can’t find the money for so many other things, I think it’s disgraceful.

Great news for the Canberra Raiders. I’m sure Don will be on the phone first thing Monday morning to share in the vibrancy.

I didn’t know the Govt is paying part of Giteau’s salary. Maybe people didn’t complain because hardly anyone realised that it was the case. In both cases, I don’t think its a valid use of taxpayers money.

Actually, it is probably more than $50,000 of public funds when you consider that TransACT (partially owned by the ACT Government), the Brumbies (recently bailed out by the ACT Government) and the Raiders (recently given a water tank) kicked in as well.

If she plays the full 11 games and averages about 30 minutes on the court each match, the 28-year-old will earn $666 per minute.

MrPC said :

When’s the next election again?

Why? Do you actually think this will make a difference? The few people outraged enough to change their vote will probably be outweighed by the basketball fans who love the decision.

$50,000 isn’t really that much in the scheme of things. It wouldn’t even pay for 1 public servant to organise a homeless shelter.

And I guess they’re hoping for more people to come out and pay to watch them – like the Victorian Govt paying a few million for Tiger Woods to play in Melbourne.

I find it really off-p!ssing that this money can be found, but not a cent for motor sport.

Ignoring the enthusiasts does not mean the interest will disappear.

No other activity is so ignored by this Gov.

And yet the Motorists Party, disorganised as all get out, still scored about 4 percent at the last election. It could be asked how many womens basketball supporters, among a hundred other groups, would have voted for their specific sport specific party, if on offer.

Probably because they didn’t have to – they are looked after by Sonic and Co.

Woody Mann-Caruso4:37 pm 28 Nov 09

In summing up, it’s the Constitution, it’s Mabo, it’s justice, it’s law, it’s the vibe and – no, that’s it.

It’s a disgrace that the homeless have to sleep rough and the bus frequencies are so poor yet we have money to spend on propping up athletes! When’s the next election again?

Come to think of it, I was feeling a bit more vibrant this morning…now I know why…

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