Ball in National Cabinet’s court for FNQ sports

The viability of several Far North sporting competitions may hinge on the outcomes of Friday’s national cabinet meeting. Many have called for an increase in the number of people allowed per venue.

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The viability of several Far North sporting competitions may hinge on Friday’s national cabinet meeting.

The Roadmap to Recovery allowed for gatherings of up to 100 people in stage three, but there is a chance that number could be increased at the discretion of government and health officials.

Cairns District Junior Rugby League officials, who will make a decision on their season next week, have already discussed how an increase in the number of people allowed in venues to as many as 500 people, or more, would allow their competition to run.

Officials at other sports have called for a similar relaxation, while abiding by physical distancing guidelines, to give their sports a better chance to generate income.

Hockey Queensland CEO Alison Lyons also serves as QSport’s Director of Field Sports, and has been a key figure in the development of the Field Team Sport’s industry COVID Safe plan which has allowed community sports to resume training.

Lyons, who grew up in Port Douglas, told the Cairns Post the QSport Field Team Sports Group, which includes members from the Queensland Rugby League, AFL Queensland, and other major sporting codes, was working through a number of plans.

“Stage 3 says 100 people but there is an asterisk there, which could allow for more people,” Lyons said.

“We’re working through that at the moment, and what that would look like.

“We’ve done well so far, it’s under control in Queensland, but we only need to look at Victoria to see how contagious it is and reminds us why we’re doing what we’ve been doing.”

Cairns MP Michael Healy said he was yet to hear specific details about any change, but did expect some positive news to emerge from either today’s cabinet meeting or in coming days, especially given the low rate of active cases in Queensland and the lack of community transmission.

Clubs returned to training earlier this month, albeit in groups of no more than 20.

Fields are split into as many as three sections, allowing as many as 60 people on a field at any given time, though no contact training is allowed until stage 3 comes into effect.

Lyons said it was important for participants, who represent a wide cross-section of the community, to abide by the government guidelines as sport returned to normal.

“Every person must take responsibility,” Lyons said.

“Clubs and volunteers are doing a lot of work to allow for sport to come back, but it’s important for people to follow the rules that are in place.”

Originally published as Ball in National Cabinet’s court for FNQ sports