8686.0 - Sports and Physical Recreation Services, Australia, 2004-05  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 29/08/2006   
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MEDIA RELEASE
August 29, 2006
Embargoed 11.30am (AEST)
77/2006

$8.8 billion income for Australia's sports and physical recreation services

Sports and physical recreation services generated $8.8 billion in income during 2004-05, according to figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
'Not for profit' organisations generated over half the income, earning $4.6 billion, while 'for profit' businesses generated $2.7 billion.

Sports membership and competition fees ($1.3 billion), sponsorship and fundraising ($0.8 billion), net industry and TAB distributions* ($0.7 billion) and admissions ($0.6 billion) were the key items of income for non-government organisations.

Expenses incurred for the same period were $8.4 billion, of which the main items were labour costs ($2.5 billion) and grants, distributions and affiliation fees ($0.9 billion).

At the end of June 2005, there were 9,256 sports and physical recreation businesses/organisations. Over half (54%) of these were 'for profit', 39% were 'not for profit', and 6% were government organisations.

The Sports and Physical Recreation Services Survey also found that during 2004-05:
  • Horse and dog racing activities generated income of $1.6 billion. The main source of income for these activities was net industry and TAB distributions ($0.7 billion), which represented 44% of the $1.6 billion.
  • Health and fitness centres and gyms generated income of $0.7 billion. Other sports and physical recreation venues, grounds and facilities generated income of $1.1 billion.
  • There were 181,832 volunteers in sports and physical recreation services during the month of June 2005.
  • There were 111,519 people employed in sports and physical recreation services at the end of June 2005.
  • Government organisations employed 11,051 people and spent $1.5 billion in relation to the provision of sports and physical recreation services.

Further details are in Sports and Physical Recreation Services, Australia, 2004-05 (cat. no. 8686.0).

Media Note:

*Industry distributions are paid by the TAB to the racing authorities/boards in each State and Territory. In turn, the racing authorities/boards pay most of these distributions to the racing clubs in their respective state.