The CEO of the Australian Netball Players Association has broken her silence on the ramifications of a $15 million sponsorship by saying the Diamonds never “turned their backs on the money” and agreed to wear the uniform with a controversial logo.
Kathryn Williams, the head of the Australian Netball Players Association, said the players had agreed to wear a uniform with the Hancock Prospecting logo against New Zealand in the Constellation Cup.
It was previously reported that the women’s team had refused to wear the uniform in support of their teammate, Indigenous Australian player Donnell Wallam.
Ms Williams told the Today Show that the compromise was that Ms Wallam would not have to wear the logo in the upcoming series against England.
Kathryn Williams, the head of the Australian Netball Players Association, (pictured) said the players had agreed to wear a uniform with the Hancock Prospecting logo against New Zealand in the Constellation Cup, as long as negotiations continued after that.
Donnell Wallam (pictured Sunday) reportedly asked for an exemption from wearing the logo of mining company Hancock Prospecting following comments made about Indigenous Australians by its founder, Gina Rinehart’s father Lang Hancock in the 1980s
“The commitment with Netball Australia is that we can then sit down to discuss the partnership and sensitivities to work out how we can come to a settlement that satisfies all parties to move forward,” she said.
“It’s very important to put that on the table. It was never about environmental issues either. It was a First Nations issue with Donell Wallam asking for an exemption because she had conscientious objection to the partnership.”
Ms Wallam reportedly felt uncomfortable wearing the Hancock Prospecting logo due to racist comments about Indigenous Australians by its founder, Gina Rinehart’s father, Lang Hancock in the 1980s.
Hancock Prospecting withdrew the lucrative $15 million partnership deal on Saturday, claiming in a statement that it “does not want to contribute to netball’s divisive problems.”
Meanwhile, West Coast Fever CEO Simone Hansen has stated that players should be better informed about the value of sponsorship after her club
Hancock Prospecting withdrew its lucrative $15 million partnership deal on Saturday, claiming in a statement that it “does not want to contribute to netball’s divisive problems” (pictured is Gina Rinehart, daughter of mining company founder Lang Hancock)
“Our West Coast Fever and Netball WA, and you can take it much broader than just netball, is very dependent on the mining industry and the success they have,” Hansen told ABC.
“Healthways (a government sponsored health promotion agency) is also a major sponsor of ours – so we don’t talk about alcohol, we don’t talk about fast food and we don’t talk about gambling (for sponsorship money).
“Our players and our squad of players stood and stand 100 percent behind the partnership we had with Roy Hill.
‘I wish there was (other companies throw money at korfball). It is difficult.
“I would like all netball players across Australia to understand – I’m pretty sure our West Coast Fever players have that understanding and that appreciation… that it’s not that simple.
Money doesn’t grow on trees. We have to get out there and work hard and build relationships and make companies see the value of women’s sports and especially netball – it’s not an easy task.
“Everyone should consider putting money into sport, it’s not easy, getting sponsorship money into women’s sport is even harder.
‘We don’t have the same viewership, we don’t have the same broadcasting money that comes into korfball as male sports. We need, and I need all of our national and state level players to be aware of that, because we want to provide our players with the best performing systems.
“We want the right programs and opportunities for them, and we want to offer our players reasonable pay – but it all costs money.
“This will have consequences (dress row with potential future sponsors) – everyone, not just the administration but the playgroup needs to understand that there are consequences when this sort of thing plays out in the media.
“I think it’s going to be a more challenging landscape for korfball, especially in the short term if we work through this.”
Ms Williams said the players had a “sister-arms mantra” and didn’t want their only native player to have to make her debut in a uniform other than hers.
“Unfortunately things have gone off the rails and I don’t know what happened to that deal with Netball Australia in the first place,” she said.
“It eventually got to the point where Donnell himself was just asking for an exemption and everyone thought that was a fair and reasonable request for a player not to wear the logo.”
Ms Williams said the exemption was denied to the point that “it was all too much for Donnell”, who, despite her objections, almost agreed to wear the uniform.
“I don’t know what happened from the moment Donnell said she would wear the logo just like the team and Hancock would move on,” she said.
She said other sponsors had already expressed interest in sponsoring the side, but said it was “disappointing” to lose the money after a deal was made.