A re-elected Liberal Government would deliver $4.5 million towards Capital Football’s Home of Football, a dedicated competition and training facility, Liberal Senator for the ACT Zed Seselja has promised.
The project, he said, would deliver state-of-the-art indoor and outdoor football facilities, support a range of community and high-performance programs, young athletes and local clubs, and provide open space for the public to use and enjoy.
Senator Seselja expected construction to be underway next year. Once finished, the facility would support the more than 3,000 Canberrans who play community football, and provide a home of excellence for Canberra United and women’s football.
“Next year, Australia will host the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, which will provide a platform that inspires girls to give football a go, and Canberra’s new Home of Football will mean the Canberra community has the facilities to help young athletes thrive,” Senator Seselja said.
“This critical funding will support the delivery of additional football fields in Gungahlin, and much needed indoor sports courts for Futsal and basketball.”
The ACT Government committed $9 million for the Throsby Home of Football in the 2021–22 Budget, taking the total investment to $33.5 million (including a $4.5 million contribution by Capital Football).
Senator Seselja announced the funding for the Home of Football a day after Labor pledged $15 million for the AIS Arena, following the Liberals’ $11.4 million commitment last month.
“The Liberal Government’s strong economic management is what allows us to invest in projects like this that deliver the sport infrastructure for Canberrans,” Senator Seselja said.
“Only our government has a plan to keep our economy strong and secure the future of the Australian Capital Territory.”
David Pocock’s response
ACT Independent Senate candidate David Pocock, a former national rugby player, pledged his support for Capital Football’s ‘Home of Football’ project to build a home for the only stand-alone Women’s Football Club in Australia, but said he was disappointed with the Liberal announcement.
The Home of Football would “be a massive asset for one of our most successful sporting franchises, Canberra United, [and] deliver desperately needed additional community sporting infrastructure,” Mr Pocock said.
“This project is a terrific partnership with the ACT Government who are contributing the lion’s share of funding required.
“What I find disappointing is the Federal Government’s failure to fully fund the gap needed to get this project in its entirety over the line.
“Senator Seselja is offering less than half of what is needed as a last-minute election announcement that is just a promise rather than actual funding.
“With the Coalition doling out some $833 million a day in election spending commitments, it says a lot that Senator Seselja couldn’t get more than $4.5 million off his colleagues.
“And it’s the community sporting side that will miss out as a result of his shortfall.
“This is yet another example of Canberra being thrown the crumbs, and even then only when a seat is under serious threat.
“It is an especially bitter pill when Victoria and Western Australia received $15 million and $16 million respectively from the federal government for similar ‘Home of Football’ projects.”
