As the cost of living crisis tightens its grip on Australians, many are finding it harder to justify the expense of a gym membership. In response to this trend, AUSactive, a health and fitness industry group, has launched a campaign calling for gym memberships to be made tax deductible.
The group’s CEO, Barrie Elvish, argues that it is ironic that taxpayers can claim deductions for donations to health-related organizations but not for investments in their own health. AUSactive’s proposal includes allowing employers to provide gym memberships to employees, allowing individuals to claim tax deductions for fitness expenses, and implementing a national public health campaign to promote physical activity.
The group points out that the cost of physical inactivity to the taxpayer was $2.4 billion in 2018-2019, with $1.7 billion attributed to direct effects. By making gym memberships tax deductible, AUSactive believes that individuals will be more incentivized to prioritize their health, leading to a healthier and more productive population.
While the government has not committed to including these proposals in the upcoming budget, Health Minister Mark Butler has stated that they will be considered as part of the normal budget process. The debate over the potential benefits and costs of making gym memberships tax deductible continues, with the federal budget set to be delivered on May 14.