The Victorian government has stepped in to fill a $15 million funding gap for the cash-strapped sport after mining giant Hancock Prospecting withdrew its support.
Visit Victoria will sponsor Netball Australia for the next four and a half years in a $15m deal, Premier Daniel Andrews announced on Monday.
Under the deal, which runs until June 2027, next year’s Super Netball Grand Final will be played in Victoria.
The Diamonds will also wear Visit Victoria branding on their team kit and play five test matches as well as hold training camps between 2023 and 2026.
Hancock Prospecting withdrew its $15m in funding to Netball Australia after a player-led revolt over the track record of Gina Rinehart’s father on indigenous issues.
Mr Andrews described the sponsorship deal as a coup for the state.
“Obviously there was a sponsor. That sponsor was no more so there was a gap and Visit Victoria raced to fill it,” he told reporters.
“Other states wanted this but Victoria secured it.”
Aussikiwi
Guest
So now Twiggy Forrest has stepped in to sponsor the Fever after Reinhart spitefully pulled Roy Hill's sponsorship (Fever had nothing to do with the NA dispute). Seems that netball doesn't need the climate change denying Trumpette after all????
Roger of Sydney
Roar Rookie
Commo Dan actually did a good thing here but the precedent is the problem. The tail is wagging the dog in netball and the fact they lost a sponsorship they should lose their jobs, in the real world they would. Also does Dan sponsor all struggling sports now or just the ones that help being re-elected.
Peter Darrow
Roar Guru
If I get a reaction from you Davico then I know I am on target.
Ben Pobjie
Expert
That’s just common or garden pork-barrelling.
Davico
Roar Pro
You realise every sport in the country is funded by public cash yeah?? Oh sorry, I forgot you have zero idea what you are on about!
Davico
Roar Pro
So when Gladys and Scumo did it it was OK?
Davico
Roar Pro
Now do NSW and the Panthers stadium upgrade!
Davico
Roar Pro
Victoria was not the monarch when this country was colonised. Pretty much every post you make either has no basis in fact or is just made up clueless BS. You are clearly the bloke with the biggest mouth and the least knowledge.
Davico
Roar Pro
Like how all the states bid on the State of Origin? How much did VIC govt drop to keep the AFL GF at the MCG? Ashes tests? Funny how no one says boo about any of that?!?!?!
Peter Darrow
Roar Guru
"If sponsors aren’t interested, then the sport is a dud. Throwing public cash at it won’t make any difference." The Spectator
JGK
Roar Guru
There is accountability - there is an election this month.
KenW
Roar Rookie
The tax concessions that mining receives do not subsidise them, but the smaller concessions to renewables do. That's a fair knot you've tied, but also completely irrelevant to the discussion of whether the government sponsoring NA is a worse deal for taxpayers than the amount of 'concessions' they give to mining.
KenW
Roar Rookie
The question I posed wasn't a general 'what could NA do better', it was a specific response to the statement from you that I quoted of NA not shutting down other issues around the Hancock sponsorship. So your points 1, 2 & 4 I have no problem with. On face value certainly seems that NA could have done much better. In regards to 3 I would say 'so what?'. A monumental crack appeared between Hancock and the netballers, if you are openly campaigning against Hancock why wouldn't you talk to them about your other concerns? As long as they were open and transparent about their motives it seems completely uncontroversial.
Doctordbx
Roar Rookie
Just make sure you take your identification with you while jogging.
Doctordbx
Roar Rookie
It's like governments have unlimited money that can be spent on anything with no accountability.
Reds Harry
Roar Rookie
While I'm glad that Netball is getting the money I must say I abhor the politicisation of sport. And that is what is happening here. From a political viewpoint, I get it, its eye catching and its Dan signalling to his base with an election coming up. Those gleefully defending this - eg. Peter Fitzsimmons -are just playing partisan politics.
formerflanker
Roar Rookie
Well, the net ballers have dug a hole for themselves by aligning themselves with the Victorian government. Now they will have to check every past utterance by labor members of parliament for inappropriate words. Secondly, by accepting the government bail-out, the netballers have said they are fine with the Victorian government using armed force against its citizens during the anti-lockdown protests. The Diamonds are also OK with pregnant women being arrested for thought crimes whilst in their pjs. Oh of course they are also ok with police pepper spaying grannies who have fallen on the ground. The ultimate irony is that the anti-mining protest by the Diamonds is now in tatters since they are taking sponsorship money from a government which willingly accepts mining royalties.
formerflanker
Roar Rookie
There is no such thing as a subsidy to the mining industry. Tax concessions yes like all other profit-making enterprises. Subsidies only flow to "renewables" in the energy sector.
MH01
Guest
Seems pointless to me. Most of the teams are from VIC ;) …….. and spectators …. Visit NSW makes mote sense to promote on VIC ……. On a serious note, at least people watch AFL.
Simoc
Roar Rookie
Yes :)