Politician eviscerates ‘selfish’ and ‘woke’ Netball Australia athletes

An Australian politician has taken aim at the netballers behind the protest which led to a $15m sponsorship deal being axed.

Australian politician Jacinta Price has taken aim at “selfish” athletes in the wake of Netball Australia being thrown into turmoil.

Netball Australia is now staring down the barrel of a financial crisis after Hancock Prospecting withdrew it’s $15 million sponsorship deal.

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While many have been quick to throw their support behind the team, others have blasted the athletes for costing the sport desperately needed funds.

Price, the Country Liberal Party senator, fell on the side of supporting Gina Rinehart and said the mining magnate is an advocate for Aboriginal Australians and shouldn’t be condemned over the words of her father.

Indigenous athlete Donnell Wallam was at the centre of player pushback to the proposed sponsorship with reports she was uncomfortable with wearing the Hancock Prospecting logo on her uniform for her Diamonds debut against England on Wednesday night.

The 28-year-old’s concerns revolve around comments made by Rinehart’s father Lang Hancock in the 1980s that sterilisation should be used to solve ‘the Aboriginal problem’.

Price said the sporting organisation needed to “grow a spine” and stand up against the “selfish” athletes in a lengthy Facebook post.

“You make your bed, you lie in it. Unless you’ve got a cool few million in your back pocket to support your sporting code, your woke sense of self importance should be your private opinion and your private opinion only,” she wrote.

“Sporting codes, corporates and society in general need to grow a spine and stop pandering to self righteous individuals on the basis saying ‘No’ to their selfish demands just might attract accusations of racism or bigotry.

“Wake up Australia! Stop acting like brainless sheeple and get on with the job, whatever job that may be. Stop creating a rod for your backs and the backs of others especially our children. Stop empowering bullies and demonstrate what it means to be a real person. Clearly self flagellation isn’t working.

Hancock Prospecting Group executive chairman and Australian Olympic supporter Gina Rinehart.

“While you allow bullies to bully it’s the vulnerable who ultimately lose out in the end. My niece is an up and coming Australian Aboriginal netball player and now those she looks up to have made her future that much harder.

“All because you choose to judge another woman on the basis of what her father said some years ago. Despite the fact this woman is a pioneer in her own right who has dedicated millions toward the betterment of Aboriginal Australians in many number of ways.

“If we chose to judge others on the actions or words of their family members we’d no doubt be peering down our noses with disgust at everyone we came across if that’s how judgemental we are to be. It’s time to grow up.

“When you put the love of your country, yourself or the thing you’re passionate about before your dislike, disdain, distaste or hate for others then that is when you achieve greatness for others to be inspired by. That is when you create opportunity and progress.

“Suck it up, get over the hurt feelings you choose to have and get on with it especially when you have the choice and are privileged to do so!”

Joyce wasn’t the only politician to hit back at the netballers with Barnaby Joyce and Jacqui Lambie condemning their actions.

Things could be set to go from bad to worse financially for the organisation with reports it could turn into a back-breaking $25 million blow, The Australian reports.

The sport has plunged into chaos after Gina Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting company on Saturday suddenly tore up the four-year financial backing agreement it had with Netball Australia to plough money into the Diamonds’ elite program and the pockets of players.

Instead the sport is in a perilous financial state, desperately searching for a white knight to come in and save the day as a direct replacement for Hancock Prospecting.

The iron ore giant stepped away from the sport after days of rumbling tensions between the financial backer and the dressing room with the Diamonds squad reportedly supporting Indigenous star Donnell Wallam for sharing concerns about wearing a team uniform that included branding from Hancock Prospecting.

Wallam has been left distressed and devastated by Hancock Prospecting’s withdrawal with reports emerging she was pressured into eventually agreeing to wear a dress that included a Hancock Prospecting logo. Hancock Prospecting ripped up the deal the next morning, citing it only wanted to be involved with players that were proud to be associated with the company, while suggesting netball had “disunity problems” between the governing body and the players.

West Coast Fever players Celebrate winning the Super Netball Grand Final. Photo by James Worsfold/Getty Images.

The situation has unravelled quickly since it was first revealed players had concerns about wearing the Hancock Prospecting logo. Netball Australia said it was working to organise a meeting between the two parties to find a solution, but it never came.

On top of the $15 million blow, The Australian has revealed there are fears inside Netball Australia that it could snowball into a $25 million blow with the potential of other prospective sponsors now being uneasy about partnering with the sport in coming years.

Netball Australia has been given a four-month grace period to arrange alternative funding arrangements.

The $15 million commercial agreement would have been a lifeline for the governing body, which had lost more than $7 million over the past two years, mostly due to costs associated with Super Netball.

Netball Australia chief executive Kelly Ryan admitted on Sunday the governing body was “reasonably concerned” about its financial plight.

Netball Australia in August knocked back its other lifeline when when a private equity firm ultimately stepped away following months of talks about the future of Super Netball.

According to reports, Tier 1 global private equity group, which manages $125 billion worth of funds, put forward a $6.5 million package to buy Super Netball in July. The deal was off one month later.

Netball Australia is reported to be $4.5 million in the red.

Australian Diamonds player Firebirds Donnell Wallam in Brisbane, Friday, April 22, 2022 - Picture: Richard Walker

Hancock Prospect blamed netball for the deal falling apart.

“Hancock and its executive chairman Mrs Rinehart consider that it is unnecessary for sports organisations to be used as the vehicle for social or political causes,” the mining giant said in a follow-up statement on Sunday.

“Firstly, because sport is at its best when it is focused on good and fair competition, with dedicated athletes striving for excellence to achieve their sporting dreams and to represent our country at their very best,” the statement said.

“Secondly, because there are more targeted and genuine ways to progress social or political causes without virtue signalling or for self-publicity. For example, the meaningful engagement with local Indigenous communities undertaken by Hancock’s Roy Hill Community Foundation in West Australia to support their actual needs.

“Thirdly, because there are more impactful means to make a beneficial difference. For example, Hancock’s holistic support for real programs including Hanrine Futures — that are providing a true pathway for Indigenous students through education and into employment where they are guaranteed a job should they wish, at the end of their training.”

Australia’s richest woman, Rinehart has also invested in the elite level of swimming, synchronised swimming, rowing and women’s volleyball together with making a multimillion-dollar commitment to the Australian Olympic Committee.

Netball Australia said on Saturday it was “disappointed” by the decision.

Netball and the Diamonds are at a crossroads as it begins to prepare for the 2023 Netball World Cup in Cape Town and the Victoria 2026 Commonwealth Games.