Eureka should reinstate grants to grassroots sport

Eureka should reinstate grants to grassroots sport

Sporting organisations are rightfully upset that Eureka has changed their position of a week ago when they said they would stop donations to horse racing but continue to fund sport.

However, charitable sports organisations and amateur sportspeople should not need to lose out over Eureka Trust’s decision to halt grants to ‘non-charitable amateur sports bodies’.

Problem Gambling Foundation CEO, Graeme Ramsey says there is a big difference between a charitable amateur sports organisation and one that is not.

“It is well recognised that if an activity is of benefit to the wider community then it is charitable. The law is clear that this can be the case for sporting activities, especially when the activity is for youth or in respect of poor or otherwise disadvantaged groups.”

“Likewise there are some sports organisations that are clearly not charitable such as professional sports teams,” Graeme Ramsey says.

“If there is any genuine doubt about the legality of Eureka’s support for any sport, then it would be highly desirable for the Trust or any of the sport bodies to seek a declaratory judgment from the High Court rather than simply cease all funding,” he says.

“Eureka has got it wrong once again. This is further evidence that Government needs to step in and reform the pokie funding system and replace it with a more transparent system where everyone understands the rules,” Graeme Ramsey says.

Background notes below.

ENDS

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