The list of frustrations also criticised Netball Australia’srefusal to announce the World Cup squad,and thedeparture of the Collingwood Mapgies from the Super Netball league,and accused the code of “pretending to consult” about the host of the 2022 Super Netball final when a deal had already been inked.
Netball Australia did not respond to questions about the claims made by the players,or about the negotiations.
Players ‘sobbing’ over financial burden
Weston began to cry after she was asked about the legal notices sent by Netball Australia demanding the Diamonds attend Saturday’s netball awards.
“It is hard to talk about what it means. The Netball Australia Awards are one of my favourite events. I’m getting emotional about it,” Weston said.
Pushing through tears,she continued:“It’s been really hard. All of us just want to be able to move forward with what we think is fair and reasonable for our playing group. We want to feel like we’re valued. We want to feel like we’re respected and listened to.”
Union boss and former Diamond Kathryn Harby-Williams reached for Weston’s arm in comfort and took to the podium.
“We are desperate to get a deal done for these players because that’s the emotional toll that you are seeing right there,” Harby-Williams said,pointing to Weston. “I speak to players and have had for the past nine weeks,and I have had players sobbing. I have had them weeping. Players have slept in their car,players have had to move out of their homes and move across the country back to families,” she said.
Asked why Netball Australia would refuse the proposed revenue share model if it was financially viable,Ian Prendergast,who is advising the union and has negotiated several pay deals said:
“If you look at the history of all sports,there’s been resistance to share revenue with athletes. In my view,it often comes back to control and power ... and some fear that[the governing body are] not able to do what[they] want.”
Funding revoked
Federal Sport Minister Anika Wells confirmed on Thursday that the government had revoked $17 million set aside for the sport because it had failed to convince the government that it would make good use of the money.
The funding was part of the $30 million of taxpayer funds committed to Netball Australia in 2019 by the Morrison government,on top of the $4 million in annual funding the sport receives.
Netball Australia has already spent nearly $12.2 million of that funding on a range of initiatives,including a successful bid on the 2027 World Cup.
A statement from Wells’ office said:“On the matter of remaining uncontracted funds that had been set aside for Netball Australia,those funds had always been subject to the receipt of a sufficiently robust business case.
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“A satisfactory proposal has not been received that would enable appropriate use of these taxpayer funds.”
A senior government source,who was not authorised to speak publicly,said the Australian Sports Commission had waited for over 18 months for a submission from Netball Australia on how it planned to spend the remaining $17 million.
The source said the commission eventually received a proposal after issuing a final reminder to the governing body about two months ago.
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Two sources with knowledge of the dealings confirmed that Wells informed Netball Australia boss Kelly Ryan of the decision on Thursday morning.
The remaining $17 million will now be open to proposals from other sports in Australia. Netball Australia will be able to put forward another submission,but even if it is accepted,it is unlikely to receive the full amount.
“I’m focused on outcomes for female athletes and quite simply,this money needs to be directed to areas I’m confident positive outcomes will happen,” Wells said.
“Netball is too important for it to not be successful,and we will continue funding discussions with a view to ensuring the 2027 World Cup provides the sport its ‘Matildas moment’.”
Wells would not comment on the pay saga,stipulating it was a matter for Netball Australia and its commercial partners to work through.
Ryan responded to the announcement late on Thursday afternoon,confirming the sport would re-submit a proposal to the government that sets it up for “future prosperity”.
“We will continue discussions with the federal government and provide them with a
proposal that … enables their investment in the growth of the netball
community that is made up of over 1 million people.”
She did not address why their initial proposal had been rejected.