Gina Rinehart rips up $15 million netball deal after sponsorship furore; Netball Australia, players respond

Australian Netball players and executives have responded to the news its $15 million lifeline from mining magnate Gina Rinehart has been scrapped.

Netball Australia has responded to mining magnate Gina Rinehart ripping up a $15 million sponsorship deal for the sport saying it was “disappointed” with the decision.

Meanwhile, Diamonds’ players have denied there was a “split within the playing group” due to the furore over the cash.

The responses comes after a growing fiasco at Netball Australia following revelations last weekend that Diamonds players had concerns about wearing a team uniform that included sponsorship branding from Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting company.

Watch the oldest rivalry in Netball as Origin Australian Diamonds face New Zealand in the Constellation Cup. Live & Free on Kayo Freebies. Join now and start streaming instantly >

Australia kept their hopes of reclaiming the Constellation Cup alive with a dominant 62-47 win over New Zealand in game three in Melbourne on Wednesday night, but the action on the court has been overshadowed by Netball Australia’s new sponsorship with Hancock.

The issue came to a head when Indigenous player Donnell Wallam, who is line to make her Diamonds debut in the upcoming series against England, was said to be uncomfortable wearing a uniform with the Hancock Prospecting logo.

This was reportedly due to comments made by Rinehart’s father Lang Hancock in the 1980s. He infamously suggested in 1984 Indigenous Australians should be sterilised to “breed themselves out” in coming years.

After the unease in the team about Hancock’s involvement became public, the firm scrapped its sponsorship deal saying it did “not want to add to netball’s disunity problems”.

Ms Rinehart’s Roy Hill company will also stop sponsoring Netball WA and team the West Coast Fever.

There was no sign of Hancock branding this week. Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images.

Netball ‘disappointed’ at sponsorship axe

On Saturday afternoon Netball Australia boss Kelly Ryan said she was “disappointed’ with the mining firm’s decision.

“We acknowledge the difficulties and impact of recent discussions and are disappointed to see them withdraw the partnership,” she said in a statement.

“This is a loss for our whole sport, from grassroots through to the elite program. Sadly, this is evident today with the decision to also withdraw financial support for Netball WA and the West Coast Fever.

Ms Kelly said she would work “around the clock” to find away out of the financial mire.

Diamonds’ players also released a statement on Saturday denying a “split” over the issue.

“Reports of a protest on the part of the players on environmental grounds and a split within the playing group are incorrect,” the statement read.

“The singular issue of concern to the players was one of support for our only Indigenous team member.

“We are fully committed to the Diamonds’ Sister in Arms legacy and the values this represents, alongside Australian Netball’s Declaration of Commitment.”

The Declaration of Commitment, signed in 2020, involved a coalition of netball organisations vowing to do more to break down the barriers for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players.

Gina Rinehart has scrapped her sponsorship deal with the team.

Players were also reported to be supportive of Wallam and the push-back against the Diamonds’ major sponsor.

The Diamonds are yet to wear a uniform with the Hancock logo on it — and it now appears that they never will.

The $15 million commercial agreement was 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 recently turned down a bid from a private equity company that offered a multimillion deal. Netball Australia instead signed its deal with Hancock.

Hancock confirmed its withdrawal in a statement.

The company will still provide “short term funding” for four months as Netball Australia searches for an “alternative sponsor”.

In a statement issued on Saturday, Hancock Prospecting confirmed it had pulled its sponsorship of the sport, and its subsequent ties to Netball WA and the West Coast Fever.

“Hancock and Roy Hill were not made aware prior to the proposed partnerships, of the complexity of existing issues between Netball Australia and the Players Association.

This includes the Players Association’s endeavours to gain a very substantial increase in wages during a time the sport is reeling financially, and unable to provide such an increase,” the statement read.

The Diamonds let their netball do the talking in game 3 of the Constellation Cup. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

“Hancock, and similarly Roy Hill, embarked on these proposed partnerships in good faith and on the basis of representations and its resulting understanding that Netball Australia and the sport’s key stakeholder groups including the Australian Diamonds, were united in their support of one of West Australia’s pre-eminent mining companies becoming their principal sponsor.”

The company claimed it had been “advised that the netballers had no concerns wearing the name on the team dress” for the Constellation Cup series.

“Hancock and Roy Hill do not wish to add to netball’s disunity problems, and accordingly Hancock has advised Netball Australia that it has withdrawn from its proposed partnership effectively immediately,” they said.

Netball Australia has been criticised for a lack of consultation with players about the deal with Hancock and there is frustration Wallam has been unfairly burdened by the situation.

Netball Australia this week announced Diamonds players will meet with Hancock Prospecting bosses in coming day.

The governing body also rejected reports players had protested the sponsorship branding, but new chair Wendy Archer admitted the sport was working to fix a divide between its major commercial partner and the Diamonds dressing room.

A statement from the governing body on Tuesday admitted it did not divulge aspects of its partnership with Hancock Prospecting following on from reports no player or the Players Association were consulted about the sponsorship.

The Diamonds return to the court to face New Zealand on Sunday on the Gold Coast before their series against England begins on Wednesday.