Gina Rinehart ditches $15M sponsorship; Netball Australia funding left in limbo
Gina Rinehart, executive chairman of mining company Hancock Prospecting, has withdrawn her $15 million sponsorship of Netball Australia after Diamonds players protested about the deal.
Rinehart
In a statement released on Saturday, Hancock Prospecting has terminated the partnership with Netball Australia, saying it was “not aware prior to the proposed partnerships, of the complexity of existing issues between Netball Australia and the Players Association”.
Roy Hill will also discontinue its sponsorship with Netball WA, which made it the principal partner of the West Coast Fever.
However, the company proposed that it will fund a 4-month sponsorship should players choose to accept it, as Netball Australia and WA arrange new sponsors.
Netball Australia chair Wendy Archer AM said while the decision was a disappointing outcome for the sport, NA understands Hancock Prospecting’s decision.
“This has been a challenging period for all involved and while every effort has been made from all parties to resolve the issues surrounding the sensitivities of the partnership, unfortunately we have not been able to achieve a mutually satisfactory outcome.”
The partnership was plunged into uncertainties when Indigenous player Donnell Wallam, supported by her teammates, voiced concerns about Hancock’s past stance on Indigenous issues.
Recently, Cricket Australia’s $40 million deal with Alinta Energy has also come to an end after Pat Cummins raised ethical objections to chief executive Nick Hockley.
Cricket Australia insisted any conversation between Cummins and Hockley did not influence Alinta’s decision.
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Darcy Song was a reporter at Mumbrella, covering media owners, adtech and social platforms. She left in October 2023.
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