Basketball Australia investigating financial and operational issues at Basketball NT

The unexpected departure of the peak body’s CEO, the pausing of the Darwin Salties and an external review into operations has the Territory basketball community worried about its future. Read what’s happening.

Territory basketball has called on Basketball Australia to conduct an external review.

The sudden departure of the head of the Northern Territory’s peak basketball body has cast serious doubt on its ability to operate effectively, and is the catalyst for an external review by Basketball Australia.

Basketball Northern Territory and Darwin Salties chief executive Matt Nason unexpectedly left the organisation following the end of the 2024 NBL1 season, 10 months after he entered the role.

His absence, alongside the standing down of the Salties NBL1 side for 2025 and financial issues in the code, has brought the organisation to its knees.

Basketball NT has since called on Basketball Australia to conduct a financial review, to be run by KPMG, into the operations of the body and to help pull it back from a financial crisis.

BA senior executives visited Darwin last week as part of the investigation to work with and continue discussions with BNT and the NT government.

The Darwin Basketball Association has also put itself forward to be reviewed.

Darwin Salties announce Matt Nason as the club's inaugural full-time general manager before he left at the end of the 2024 season. Picture: Contributed.

The Darwin Salties brand will also be reviewed.

In 2024 the able-bodied side was run by the BNT while the still-continuing wheelchair team is run by the DBA.

A source close to Territory basketball said the review was required because of “how the organisation was currently run”.

“The peak body has been paralysed by the loss of the CEO,” they said.

“This is all about the peak body and its ability to operate, they’ve had to go to Basketball Australia for help to fix up the mess they’ve found themselves in.

“As the peak body they’re the ones that receive government funding and are accountable for it.

“The concern for all Territory associations is what impact will this have for all of us, and the services we’re meant to get from Basketball Northern Territory such as development programs and training services.

“Who will be next to get dragged into this audit?”

Meanwhile BNT’s High Performance manager Rod Tremlett is obtaining coaching experience with the Illawarra Hawks, which has taken him away from his current role.

In the absence of the key pair it is understood BNT is operating with an acting high performance manager and a volunteer chief executive who is also a BNT board member.

The Darwin Salties will not be returning in 2024. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

BA chief executive Matt Scriven, speaking on behalf of BNT, said the two bodies had instructed KPMG to conduct a full audit into the financial situation and were working with the NT government.

“Basketball is one of the most popular sports in the NT,” he said.

“We understand that these matters have caused a level of apprehension for clubs and participants, we have prioritised finding a resolution quickly.

“We have had senior executives on the ground assessing the situation and working on managing the sport into the future.

“We will not have any more comments to make until the KPMG audit is received.”

It follows confirmation the Darwin Salties NBL1 side would not continue in 2025, after being unable to complete a bid to join the NBL1 Central competition in time.

The Salties hope to join the South Australian competition in 2026, after leaving NBL1 North due to a financial dispute over the current arrangement.

The team’s major sponsor, Tamboran, has confirmed it will continue to support the Salties and would “help get them back to the NBL1 competition as soon as possible”.

“Tamboran is working closely with the club to ensure that significant grassroots opportunities for young Territorian basketballers occur next season,” a spokesman said.

Originally published as Basketball Australia investigating financial and operational issues at Basketball NT