"Golf also provides important benefits for people's social health. Golf facilitates social interaction between friends and community members, thereby reducing feelings of loneliness and isolation that may otherwise occur."

Address to the Federation Chamber - Private Members' Business - Golf

Monday 13 November 2023

It's safe to say that my views on this motion are on par with that of my colleagues. They are not a fairway removed. Apologies for the bad puns. There'll be no more. The electorate of Bean and the ACT are home to some of the great golf courses in the country, with golfers enjoying some of the best natural landscapes while often navigating kangaroos and other wildlife. Stretching from the Murrumbidgee Country Club in my electorate, to Royal Canberra Golf Club, Federal Golf Club, Yowani Country Club and Capital Golf Club, and to the Fairbairn, Belconnen, Gold Creek and Gungahlin Lakes clubs in the northern part of the ACT, Canberrans of all ages have a diverse range of options to choose from.

I say 'all ages' because one of the unique aspects of golf is that it is a sport that allows everyday Australians to be engaged in physical activity, from childhood to older age. There is simply no age barrier to this sport. Golf is shown to provide moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity and therefore could be expected to have beneficial effects on longevity, physical health, mental health and overall wellness. Walking around an average course for a round of golf can be between five and seven kilometres. If you walk 18 holes three to five times a week, you'll get an optimal amount of endurance exercise for your heart.

Golf also provides important benefits for people's social health. Golf facilitates social interaction between friends and community members, thereby reducing feelings of loneliness and isolation that may otherwise occur. Beyond benefits for golfers, golf clubs and their facilities are often community meeting hubs which help to generate a sense of belonging, especially in regional and rural areas where such facilities can be lacking. Analysis from the Community benefits of golf in Australia report for 2023 has found that 166,000 Australians are physically active with golf but would be considered inactive without it.

In addition to the health benefits, our golf courses regularly host charity events. Such events contribute to broader investment in the health and wellbeing of Australians. Early in the day, I mentioned the Menslink Great Walk. As part of our fundraising for this great Canberra organisation, Paul Eccles ran a successful golf charity day at the Federal Golf Club a few weeks ago. On the subject of the Menslink Great Walk, may I commend the particular fundraising and walking efforts of Sarah Rajic from Capital Recruit, who was participating in this 142 kilometre walk for the third time. Over the last 12 months, Australia's golf courses hosted 1.5 million golfers, while a further 1.2 million played off course at a range of spaces including driving ranges, minigolf facilities—about my standard—and simulators.

The community benefits report also discussed the environmental benefits that golf courses contribute to national ecology. It was found that an 18-hole golf course produces enough oxygen annually to sustain around 85,000 people. In addition to this, Australia's golf courses and driving ranges provide enough oxygen to sustain around 80 million people. The message is clear: golf is one of the biggest sports in Australia, contributing significant economic, social and environmental benefits to golfers and the Australian community. The Albanese government recognises this contribution and is supporting golf through high-performance, wellbeing budgets and 2024 Paris Olympic Games preparation and funding. I thank the member for Forde for proposing this almost-Greens motion and commend it to the House.