Australian sport policy and advocacy: an historical account of policy evolution, government involvement, and the advent of lobbying

Various factors have influenced the evolution of Australian sport policy, including war and the importance of national health. Historically, the involvement of the Australian federal government was sporadic, and policy decisions were subject to prevailing political agendas. Within that context, moves toward consistent sport policy were influenced by the initially indirect and, more latterly, direct influence of lobbying. This paper explores the processes that shaped Australian sport policy, including the burgeoning role of advocacy. Examining sport as government policy, the paper is organised into four thematic sections, commencing with background on policy, followed by an outline of sport policy post-federation leading up to the early 1970s, then a review of developments post-1970, and concluding with an outline of the development of lobbying. Methodologically, literature, including journal articles, books, government documents, Hansard, and “grey” material, formed the basis of a narrative review to illuminate the four themes. The findings point to an evolutionary process that elevated sport to a significant policy consideration, with various elements such as fitness, health, and international sporting success becoming essential to the architects of sport policy. Within that framework, the role of advocacy developed to significant effect but more recently, lobbying in sport policy has become subject to the vicissitudes of political interest and commercial influences, creating a void in the policy process.