Tasmanian politician David O’Byrne to take on SFL’s top job
Former Tasmanian Labor leader David O’Byrne has taken on a key football role in the state’s south. SEE THE DETAILS >>
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The Southern Football League (SFL) has announced Tasmanian politician David O’Byrne as its new president.
O’Byrne, a local Member for Franklin, will replace Russell Young who announced he was stepping away from the role back in February following three-years at the helm.
O’Byrne was elected as the new president at a board meeting at SFL headquarters in Hobart on Tuesday night.
“Mr. O’Byrne fills the vacant Presidents position after Russell Young announced that he would be stepping down from the role on the 1st of March 2023,” an SFL statement said.
“Mr. O’Byrne will occupy the position until the 2024 SFL Annual General Meeting.
“Mr. O’Byrne has been involved in Australian Rules Football in numerous roles including previously playing for South Launceston, Sandy Bay and the Southern Cats in the former Statewide League and also with University in the Old Scholars league.
“He has also played football interstate and is currently a member for Franklin in the House of
Assembly,” it read.
O’Byrne is no stranger to leadership with the 53-year-old a former Tasmanian Labor Party leader.
He assumed the position in June 2021 before resigning just a month later following an allegation of sexual harassment relating to alleged events in 2007 and 2008 which was levelled at him by a former union staffer.
O’Byrne willingly participated into an investigation and while an internal investigation found his conduct was wrong and inappropriate, it found Mr O’Byrne did not breach Labor’s sexual harassment policy.
Despite calls from the woman he replaced in the top job, Rebecca White - who also regained the leadership from O’Byrne - to resign from Parliament, he remained firm he would not leave politics completely in the wake of the allegations.
The SFL season is set to kick off on April 7 with Good Friday clashes between Dodges Ferry v Brighton, Hounville v Lindisfarne, Hobart v Cygnet and New Norfolk v Claremont.
Originally published as Tasmanian politician David O’Byrne to take on SFL’s top job
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