Billionaire Gina Rinehart’s mining company Hancock Prospecting has “regrettably” pulled the plug on its controversial sponsorship of Netball Australia in the latest twist to the ongoing saga.
Hancock had agreed to a $15 million sponsorship deal over four years with netball’s cash-strapped governing body but the deal had caused ructions within the Diamonds.
The Hancock company logo was expected to feature on their uniforms through the Constellation Cup series against New Zealand.
But after opposition from Indigenous player Donnell Wallam, who was supported by her teammates, it only featured on a press conference background banner in Melbourne.
Hancock and Roy Hill released a statement on Saturday confirming they were pulling out of the deal, saying they “were not made aware prior to the proposed partnerships of the complexity of existing issues between Netball Australia and the Players Association”.
“This includes the Players Association’s endeavours to gain a very substantial increase in wages during a time the sport is reeling financially, and unable to provide such an increase,” the statement read.
“Hancock, and similarly Roy Hill, embarked on these proposed partnerships in good faith and on the basis of representations and its resulting understanding that Netball Australia and the sport’s key stakeholder groups including the Australian Diamonds, were united in their support of one of West Australia’s pre-eminent mining companies becoming their principal sponsor.”
Roy Hill will also discontinue its planned sponsorship agreement with Netball WA as the principal partner of the West Coast Fever.
Gina Rinehart (Photo: Steve Christo) (Photo by Steve Christo/Corbis via Getty Images)
Hancock Prospecting said sponsorship in sports was needed.
“Sport is at its best when it is focused on good and fair competition, with dedicated athletes striving for excellence to achieve their sporting dreams and to represent our country at their very best,” a second statement read.
“There are more targeted and genuine ways to progress social or political causes without virtue signalling or for self-publicity. For example, the meaningful engagement with local Indigenous communities undertaken by Hancock’s Roy Hill Community Foundation in West Australia to support their actual needs.
“The reality is that sponsorship is integral to sports organisations – for full-time professionals right through to young children at the grassroots level – who rely on corporations investing the funds that enable all sports to not only survive, but thrive.
“Sadly recent media does not help encourage sporting sponsorships.
“What can be lacking is a sufficient connection between sponsorship funds and the athletes themselves, with money unnecessarily wasted on administration and related costs.
“As is evidence by the other successful sporting partnerships undertaken by Hancock, including the Australian Olympic Committee, Volleyball Australia, Artistic Swimming Australia, Rowing Australia and elite swimmers at both the national and state level, there is overwhelming support for Hancock’s athlete focused funding, enabling training to be prioritised and performances to be enhanced on the global stage – as was proven through the record breaking efforts at the recent Olympic and Commonwealth Games.”
The companies said they had offered Netball Australia and Netball WA a short-term sponsorship to fund athletes while they looked for new partners.
“(Hancock) will instead provide a four-month sponsorship should they and their players wish to accept it, to continue funding athletes and to help netball as it arranges alternative funding and sponsorships.”
Netball Australia has suffered losses of more than $7 million in two COVID-impacted years, and only two months ago turned down a $6.5 million bailout due to not wanting to privatise the game.
Stepper05
Roar Rookie
With Wallam I do not think she can be blamed for this debacle. The media in the eastern states have got this issue wrong. The genesis of the greivances with the aboriginal community is with a town called Wittendom. There greivance is with 1 The WA government 2 CSR Limited 3 Hancock Prospecting It all has to do with Asbestos.
Johnno
Roar Rookie
Why should she. It’s her money, and again Gina has done nothing wrong, she has said nothing wrong. Her actions speak volumes of her commitment to indigenous people. So why should Gina have to use Roy Hill?
Peter Darrow
Roar Guru
Do you dislike people who have had a fortunate start to their lives? Where you were born, who your parents are, is all about luck. Some get lucky, others don't. Do you want everyone to struggle, be poor, depend on the Govt?
JGK
Roar Guru
Well, she became a billionaire from the death of her dad.
JGK
Roar Guru
There doesn't seem to be any reason why she couldn't have used Roy Hill as the sponsor like she did for the WA State teams.
Peter Darrow
Roar Guru
JGK You don't become a billionaire if you are thin skinned.
Johnno
Roar Rookie
The company name is Hancock (yes he started the coy) but the owner is Gina. Her record & support of the indigenous & women’s sport is indisputable. Her actions are what should be judged.
Dave Rosenthal
Guest
This situation came from lack of education and communication. Players involved took a stance which is there choice. But was done from an uneducated point of view. But Netball Aus leadership are just as guilty for not addressing this with having sufficient knowledge of their sponsor. Looking after your sponsors is paramount for ongoing commitment and survival. They have a responsibility to be talking to their players before unfortunate choices are made.
JGK
Roar Guru
And the sponsor’s name is Dad, not Gina.
Aussikiwi
Guest
Maybe get your facts straight. Players agreed to wear logo, without any exemptions, the day before before Rinehart pulled the funding citing "disunity". She didn't explain what that meant. They will be better off without Hancock sponsorship anyway.
Michelle Oliver
Guest
The point that is most important here Gina is not Lang! Lang Hancock said those barbaric comments not Gina or her now corporations! How disappointing Netball Australia never took the opportunity to educate its players on the power of forgiveness and letting go, Lang was old school and his comments were deeply offensive, but they were from Lang's mouth, not Gina's. Gina has been slapped in the face for trying to put a great deal of money behind a struggling Australian Women's sport! No doubt there are many other sports waiting in line who will be so grateful for such funds!
Russell Wells
Guest
Not representing Hancock- representing Australia. Hancock just helping pay bills and wages
Roberto Bettega
Roar Rookie
Well, in the current context, the original words at the heart of this discussion were quite damning, and it's unclear to me why only the "woke left" would have an issue with such utterances. Would not any decent human have an issue with those words?
Johnno
Roar Rookie
And the comment was from a Dad not Gina.
Censored Often
Roar Rookie
They don’t have to worry about either now.
Andy F
Roar Rookie
You earn the right to claim values through your actions not your empty words
MIK
Guest
Is the player a free member of the community or not. I'm amazed the comments here suggesting she should be gagged. Hancock should be big enough and brave enough to handle criticism and not display a glass jaw. I think it is a gutless and cowardly action by Hancock to punish a whole sport because "someone said something bad about them". Hancock are like little kids - take away the ball and cry all the way home. "Someone said something mean about me".
Anjee
Guest
So something that was said 40+ years ago by her father? How often must sorry be said for the past? The past is in the past. Move on, we chant change the past, but we can do better in the future. Do not put the sins on the fathers on to their children.
Blackman Renée Judyth
Guest
I wondered if people knew what was said, that is very offensive!
Brett Sharman
Guest
Yet she had made apologies for her fathers comments, what more can she do?