Four key sponsors of Netball Australia are standing by their respective partnerships after Hancock Prospecting pulled its four-year $15 million sponsorship deal amid the uniform boycott controversy.
With the sport in financial peril, there were fears other sponsors could be spooked by the dispute between players and Netball Australia and by athletes taking a stand on social issues. However, sponsors canvassed by The Age and the Sydney Morning Herald indicated they intended to see stand by the organisation.
Health insurer HCF, who have been a partner of Netball Australia for the past four years, said they were proud of their partnership which has “helped to empower those within the netball community to lead healthier, more active lives”.
Australia’s netball captain Liz Watson fronted media on Tuesday to explain the Diamonds’ stance.Credit:Scott McNaughton
The not-for-profit heath fund is in negotiations with Netball Australia as their current sponsorship deal comes to an end.
“We’re proud of this partnership and are currently in commercial discussions with Netball Australia regarding future seasons of sponsorship,” said their spokesperson.
Similarly, major sponsor Nissan said they are sticking to their partnership with the sporting body after re-committing to Netball Australia for a further five years.
“We are proud this support spans from grassroots to international competition for the biggest female sport in Australia,” said a spokesperson for Nissan Australia.
Woolworths, who are a major sponsor of Netball Australia’s grassroots program NetSetGO, also said they were committed to that partnership.
“Our sponsorship agreement with Netball Australia is focused on the sport’s grass roots program for children, and Woolworths is committed to Woolworths NetSetGO to support the health and wellbeing of Australian kids,” said a spokesperson for the major supermarket company.
Another sponsor who didn’t wish to make a public comment gave an assurance they weren’t going anywhere.
The Australian mining and agricultural business Hancock Prospecting withdrew its substantial sponsorship deal one day out from the Diamonds’ Constellation Cup decider against the Silver Ferns, saying it did not wish to add to the sport’s “disunity problems”.
Australian captain Liz Watson in action against New Zealand in Auckland.Credit:Getty
It came after Diamonds players threatened a uniform boycott featuring the logo of the company owned by mining billionaire Gina Rinehart due to concerns raised by squad member and Noongar woman Donnell Wallam regarding their sponsor’s record on Indigenous issues.
While Wallam has not spoken publicly about the matter, it is understood she felt uncomfortable promoting a company founded by the late Lang Hancock, Rinehart’s father, who made offensive racial comments.
In the 1980s, Hancock suggested Indigenous people’s should be sterilised to “breed themselves out” and “solve the problem”.
Former Diamonds defender Amy Steel said voicing ethical and moral concerns about sponsors is a “really tough one for the players” and would like to see more consultation with players before sponsorship deals are announced.
“For a current player and especially one who’s not even put on the uniform yet, that’s hugely brave to raise concerns that you’ve got about a sponsor,” said Steel.
“It shouldn’t be on the players to have to raise these issues, you know, that’s not their core expertise. We get them because they’re great at sport, we don’t have them in the team because they’re corporate social responsibility experts.
“But they’ve been put in a place where they have to speak out because no one’s done that real due diligence about [potential] ethical concerns…there needs to be evaluation before [sponsors] are announced and it has to be worked through with the playing group as well and if they have any concerns about this sponsor.”
Steel also praised the Diamonds’ support of their teammate, saying the “sister in arms” motto is a core value to the group and their success.
“What we saw in the early days of what happened with the Hancock situation was that one of the players had concerns, so all the players got together and said ‘Look if you’re uncomfortable, we’re all in this together one this issue’,” said Steel.
“And I think that’s a really beautiful thing that they can bond together and support each other whether or not they’re all in the same boat in terms of having a similar concern.
“We saw them win the two games afterwards, so hopefully that is something that we see, when teams go through a bit of hardship together, it does bring them closer.”
