Mark McGowan has called for’reconciliation’ between Gina Rinehart and Netball Australia in the aim of reviving the $15 million sponsorship arrangement.
After national team players objected to her offer, Australia’s richest woman accused the Diamonds of virtue signaling.
The athletes were wary of being affiliated with Ms Rinehart’s company because of discriminatory remarks made by Lang Hancock regarding Aboriginals in 1984.
Indigenous athlete Donnell Wallam requested a waiver to wear the sponsor’s emblem on the team uniform, and her teammates supported her decision.
During a news conference with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Sunday, the Western Australian premier was asked about the saga and begged for the two parties to return to the negotiating table for the sake of the sport.
‘I understand why those corporations — Hancock and Roy Hill — opted to withdraw their sponsorship,’ he said.
‘It would be fantastic if there could be a reconciliation and sponsorship could resume.’
Mr McGowan, whose daughter played netball, described the scenario as “painful” for everyone involved but emphasized the significance of the sponsorship.
‘I understand that some of the things spoken were not welcomed by some of the people in Hancock and Roy Hill, but in light of what has happened, I just encourage reconsideration,’ he continued.
‘Virtually every girl has played netball at some point in her life.
‘It’s really a beautiful international sport in which Australia excels.’ It’s actually a terrific sport to watch… and it’s Australia’s most popular sport.’
The Prime Minister was also questioned about the situation, and he, too, emphasized the importance of the sport on a national scale.
‘Netball is a big deal in this nation,’ Mr Albanese continued.
‘It’s played by so many individuals, especially women and girls.’
Despite having nothing to do with the disagreement, Perth’s Super Netball team said it was “collateral damage” in the scenario and was “bitterly unhappy” to lose Roy Hill as its principal sponsor.
‘We are the only SSN club that is directly affected by this decision,’ said chairperson Simone Hansen.
‘We are collateral damage in the national issue, and we are upset that all netball parties were unable to reach a consensus, which has been reflected in the media.’
‘We were dedicated to the cooperation and disappointed that external reasons beyond our control caused the agreement to be withdrawn.’
Ms Hansen stated that Fever players understood the necessity of ‘commercial funding’ and were not part in any boycott negotiations.
‘Every single one of our players was supportive of our cooperation with Roy Hill, and unfortunately, they will be the most impacted by this decision,’ she continued.
‘The club and West Australian netball have a strong history with the mining industry and are appreciative for their continuous support.’
‘The mining sector and its related industries are critical to the livelihoods of many West Australians, including netball families,’ says the report.
Hancock Prospecting, Ms Rinehart’s mining company, responded angrily by withdrawing its $15 million sponsorship offer.
‘Hancock and its executive chairman, Mrs Rinehart, believe that sports organizations should not be exploited as a vehicle for social or political reasons,’ the corporation stated.
‘There are more targeted and real approaches to advance social or political concerns that do not include virtue signaling or self-publicity.’
Natalie Medhurst, who has 86 Diamonds caps, blamed Netball Australia for letting down its players and putting the game in peril.
‘It’s a vehicle accident.’ ‘Having played at the best level for 17 years, seeing the sport in this state crushes my heart,’ writes Medhurst for CodeSports.
‘So much of this narrative is hazy, and the essence of the problem has been lost in the blockbuster headlines.’
Medhurst stated that the sport was already in a perilous financial position and that more sponsorship controversies would jeopardize its long-term survival.
‘Netball Australia and the Diamonds playing group haven’t always been one big happy family, but it’s always been a lot better than what we’ve witnessed in the last two years,’ she wrote.
‘Enough already. This struggle is not being won by anyone.
‘Innocent bystanders, such as grassroots athletes, volunteers, and supporters, are suffering. Consider Netball WA and the West Coast Fever, who have been hit by this out-of-control car.’
Australian cricket captain Pat Cummins was also chastised for objecting to a partnership with Alinta Energy despite previously appearing in an advertisement for the company, while Fremantle Dockers players asked that their club exclusively support sustainable businesses.
Medhurst advised sporting organizations to improve the working conditions for their players and collaborate on the contracts they signed.
‘No coach, club, or corporation could begrudge their players for upholding the principles of their culture. ‘Why bother,’ she reasoned.
‘This is also true for Australian Diamonds. On what grounds can we criticize them for living and acting in accordance with the culture that has previously been welcomed and praised by the players, coaching staff, and netball executives?’
She bemoaned the sport’s ‘well-documented financial troubles,’ and warned that more failures may be ‘disastrous’ for netball.
Netball Australia’s Player’s Association boss and former Diamonds captain Kathryn Harby-Williams has broken her silence on the topic, stating the players were happy to wear the brand during the next competition.
‘It’s been a shock, obviously everyone is sad, but I think we need to clarify here that the players’ position has always been that they were willing to wear the logo throughout the Constellation Cup,’ Ms Harby-Williams said on ABC Grandstand.
‘We had reached a deal with Netball Australia where everyone was satisfied that would happen and that Donnell and the players would not be compelled to wear the logo against England in the three-match series, which begins soon.’
‘At no point did the players wish to have the offer taken off the table, but we were clearly eager to come to a compromise and had agreed to that shortly after the players stood by Donnell,’ said the spokesman.
Ms Harby-Williams said that Wallam was never granted an exemption but was instead pursuing one, and that the situation could have been easily rectified internally.
‘Donnell requested an exemption for herself, but it was denied because there was a meeting where it was made very clear that no exemptions would be granted to any player,’ she explained.
‘That was a terrible moment because the players expected, at the very least, an exemption for Donnell at that point in time.’
‘It was obviously a disappointing moment for the players to realize that would not be forthcoming.’
‘She was never given permission to wear the logo versus England.’
‘And that’s basically what it came down to in the end: an Indigenous player, our first in nearly 25 years and just our third in history, was seeking an exemption for just three games so she could focus on her debut and then we could go to the table to straighten it out after the England series.’
The Player’s Association president even admitted that Wallam would wear the jersey since the burden of the situation was ‘too much to handle.’
‘As a sport, I think that should be really disheartening for everyone because we need to do better and be inclusive without fear of retaliation,’ she continued.
Netball Australia CEO Kelly Ryan expressed ‘worry’ about the sport’s future after Ms Rinehart rejected her $15 million sponsorship offer.
‘We are quite concerned, but at the same time, we have been incredibly upfront about our sport’s financial status throughout the year,’ she told Nine’s Today on Sunday.
Poll
Do you believe Gina Rinehart should have cancelled Hancock Prospecting’s $15 million sponsorship agreement with Netball Australia?
No 4533 votes Yes 4533 votes No 119 votes
Now express your thoughts.
‘It is quite upsetting that we have lost this financing, which was supposed to assist us accelerate forward and put us in a much stronger position.’
‘However, I remain extremely optimistic that we have the appropriate measures in place to get the sport to where it needs to be.’
The $15 million contract was supposed to be a lifeline for netball Australia, which had lost $7 million in the previous two years due to rising Super Netball costs.
Ms Ryan was noncommittal when asked to comment to Ms Rinehart’s statement that sports teams should not be used for “virtue signaling.”
‘Obviously, Mrs Rinehart’s views are hers, and we appreciate them completely,’ she said.
‘From grassroots to elite, sporting organizations play a critical role in creating a safe atmosphere in which to conduct really robust social conversations.’
Prospecting statement by Hancock
Hancock and Roy Hill do not want to exacerbate Netball’s disunity, so Hancock has informed Netball Australia that it has withdrawn from its proposed agreement, effective immediately.
Hancock and its executive chairman, Mrs Rinehart, believe that sports organizations should not be exploited as a tool for social or political purposes.
To begin with, sport is at its finest when it is centered on good and fair competition, with motivated individuals aiming for perfection in order to accomplish their sporting aspirations and represent our country to the best of their abilities.
Second, there are more targeted and authentic ways to advance social or political concerns without virtue signaling or self-promotion. Consider Hancock’s Roy Hill Community Foundation in West Australia’s significant engagement with local Indigenous communities to assist their actual needs.
Third, there are more effective ways to make a positive change. For example, Hancock’s holistic support for real programs, such as Hanrine Futures, that provide a legitimate pathway for Indigenous students through education and into employment, where they are promised a job at the end of their training if they so desire.
The reality is that sponsorship is essential to sports organizations, from full-time pros to young children at the grassroots level, who rely on corporations to spend monies that allow all sports to not only exist, but develop.