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Netball Australia is pleased to announce a partnership with Visit Victoria that will showcase netball at the national and international levels for the next five years. 

The partnership will commence from 2023, with Visit Victoria joining as a major partner of Netball Australia and a platinum partner of the Origin Australian Diamonds.  

Victoria is set to host at least one Diamonds test match per year for the next five years, as the world’s number one ranked netball team builds towards major events including the 2023 Netball World Cup and Victorian 2026 Commonwealth Games. Visit Victoria branding will also feature on the Diamonds’ uniforms. 

As a result of Visit Victoria becoming a major partner of Netball Australia, Victoria will also be the host state for the most anticipated match on the Suncorp Super Netball calendar, the 2023 Suncorp Super Netball Grand Final. 

It will mark the second year of the league’s new Grand Final format, with a predetermined venue to be locked in ahead of each season.  

Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos said “This ground-breaking partnership with the Diamonds will allow us to further showcase why we do sport better than anywhere else in Australia.” 

Netball Australia CEO Kelly Ryan welcomed Visit Victoria as a major partner.  

“Victoria is a proud sporting state and we are delighted to announce a new partnership with Visit Victoria,” Ryan said.    

“The partnership will guarantee Victorians the opportunity to experience more netball across the next five years.  

“This investment will benefit all levels of netball – from our pathway system to the Suncorp Super Netball League and the Origin Australian Diamonds.” 

Origin Australian Diamonds Captain Liz Watson thanked Visit Victoria for their support. 

“This is a significant partnership for the Origin Australian Diamonds as we prepare to defend our Commonwealth Games gold medal in Victoria in 2026,” Watson said. 

“Visit Victoria is a proud supporter of netball and this investment will benefit all levels of our game.” 

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Netball Australia signs ‘AUS$15m’ Visit Victoria deal

State tourism board replaces hancock after mining firm's deal was terminated amid player backlash..

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Netball Australia has announced a five-year partnership with Visit Victoria which sees the state tourism board’s logo feature on national team uniforms.

The agreement is worth AUS$15 million (US$9.67 million), according to local media, and sees Visit Victoria become a platinum partner of the Australian Diamonds.

The new partnership will also see Victoria will host the 2023 Suncorp Super Netball grand final. The state will also host at least one Diamonds match annually for the next five years, with the deal covering the 2023 Netball World Cup and Victoria 2026 Commonwealth Games.

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The deal comes after Netball Australia’s previous agreement with Hancock was recently terminated following player backlash due to the mining company’s record on Indigenous issues. As the deal unwound, the Diamonds played without Hancock branding during the Constellations Cup, prompting the Perth-based company to cancel its agreement.

“This ground-breaking partnership with the Diamonds will allow us to further showcase why we do sport better than anywhere else in Australia,” said Steve Dimopoulos, Victoria’s Minister for tourism, sport and major events.

Kelly Ryan, chief executive of Netball Australia, added: “Victoria is a proud sporting state and we are delighted to announce a new partnership with Visit Victoria.

“The partnership will guarantee Victorians the opportunity to experience more netball across the next five years.  

“This investment will benefit all levels of netball – from our pathway system to the Suncorp Super Netball League and the Origin Australian Diamonds.”

Australian Netball To Showcase Victoria To The World

Victoria will further cement its status as Australia’s sporting capital with a ground-breaking new partnership between Netball Australia and the Andrews Labor Government – making our state the number one supporter of the Australian Diamonds.

In a $15 million partnership with Visit Victoria which will run until June 2027, Premier Daniel Andrews today announced the Diamonds will showcase the nation’s sporting capital with branding on their team kit for home and away tests, while players and coaches will be involved in campaigns to promote Victoria as a fantastic tourism destination.

The world’s top-ranked netball team will also play five test matches and hold their high-performance training camps in Victoria between 2023 and 2026.

The 2023 Suncorp Super Netball Grand Final will be played in Victoria as part of the deal.

Alongside promoting netball at the elite level, the partnership will deliver community initiatives to encourage grassroots participation in the sport, particularly in culturally diverse communities.

Netball boasts the highest level of participation among young women for any sport in Australia – and as one of the nation’s most popular national teams, the Diamonds are an inspiration for women and girls across all levels of the sport.

The partnership builds on the Labor Government’s significant investments in some of the world’s biggest netball events and facilities – including the sold-out Constellation Cup test where the Diamonds emerged victorious over New Zealand, and the redevelopment of the State Netball and Hockey Centre in Parkville.

Quotes attributable to Premier Daniel Andrews

“Victoria is our nation’s sporting capital and its best tourist destination – it’s only right we launch this new partnership to back elite netball in Australia and promote our state to the world.”

“This partnership isn’t just about elite netballers – we’re proud to be supporting grassroots netball clubs and increasing women’s participation in sport in every corner of the state.”

Quote attributable to Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos

“As we prepare to host the world’s first regional Commonwealth Games in 2026, our ground-breaking partnership with the Diamonds will allow us to further showcase why we do sport better than anywhere else in Australia.”

Quote attributable to Netball Australia Chief Executive Officer Kelly Ryan

“Victoria is a proud sporting state, and we are delighted to announce a new partnership with Visit Victoria. The partnership will guarantee Victorians the opportunity to experience more netball across the next four and a half years.”

Quote attributable to Australian Diamonds Captain Liz Watson

“This is a significant partnership for the Origin Australian Diamonds as we prepare to defend our Commonwealth Games gold medal in Victoria in 2026. Visit Victoria is a proud supporter of netball, and this investment will benefit all levels of our game.”

Reviewed 31 October 2022

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Victoria to sponsor Australian Diamonds netball team after Hancock Prospecting exit

Daniel Andrews says $15m government deal will encourage grassroots participation as well as promote tourism in the state

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The Victorian government has announced a four-and-a-half-year deal to become the new sponsor of Netball Australia after Hancock Prospecting’s withdrawal from its $15m partnership amid controversy earlier this month.

The state’s premier, Daniel Andrews , has called the agreement, which will see Visit Victoria plug the hole left by Hancock Prospecting, “a coup”.

Andrews said on Monday the new deal – also worth $15m – had several elements to it and, in addition to supporting the game at the elite level, the partnership will aim to encourage grassroots participation in the sport, particularly in culturally diverse communities.

Andrews also confirmed that Diamonds players would wear the Visit Victoria logo on their uniforms. Under the original Hancock Prospecting deal, some of the playing group expressed concerns that ultimately led to the agreement’s demise.

The Diamonds – the world’s top-ranked team – will play one Test match a year for the duration of the deal and hold their high-performance training camps in Victoria between 2023 and 2026. Next year’s Super Netball Grand Final will also be played in Victoria as part of the deal.

“We are really thrilled today to be able to announce a four-and-a-half-year sponsorship deal where Visit Victoria will become a significant sponsor for the Australian Diamonds netball team,” Andrews said. “This is a coup for our state.

“Obviously there was a sponsor. That sponsor was no more so there was a gap and Visit Victoria raced to fill it. Other states wanted this but Victoria secured it.

“Players in that Diamonds team will wear the Visit Victoria logo. There will be social media content, digital content, advertising during big games. There’ll also be, courtside, a presence as well, taking what is the sports capital, the major events sports capital – food, wine, everything in between capital – of our nation. It’s all about encouraging more people to come here and visit Victoria.

“There’ll be members of the national squad that’ll be involved in participation efforts at that grassroots level. So, going out into Victorian communities, particularly in culturally and linguistically diverse areas.

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“As I said, the uniform, logo, signage, promotional material, all manner of digital content – again, using the very best netballers in our country to project all that we offer nationally and internationally. That advertising’s really important.”

Cash-strapped Netball Australia has been searching for a new sponsor – and a way to ease the financial stress on the organisation – since Hancock pulled out of its deal on 22 October after a player backlash led to scrutiny.

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The team had reportedly stood with squad member Donnell Wallam, an Indigenous player, who had raised concerns within the playing group about the company’s record on Indigenous issues. Despite pulling out, Hancock said it would provide short-term funding until a new major partner was found.

Netball Australia chief executive, Kelly Ryan, welcomed the new deal that covers the national team’s preparations for next year’s Netball World Cup and Victorian 2026 Commonwealth Games.

“Victoria is a proud sporting state and we are delighted to announce a new partnership with Visit Victoria,” Ryan said. “The partnership will guarantee Victorians the opportunity to experience more netball across the next five years.

“This investment will benefit all levels of netball – from our pathway system to the Suncorp Super Netball League and the Origin Australian Diamonds.”

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Netball Australia bounces back securing Visit Victoria as new sponsor

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October 31, 2022 | 3 min read

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Netball Australia has secured a $15 million sponsorship deal with Visit Victoria after losing its previous deal with mining giant Hancock Prospecting.

Netball Australia secures new sponsor following collapse of Hancock Prospecting deal after player backlash

The Visit Victoria deal will run until June 2027 and see the national netball team, The Diamonds, adopt Visit Victoria branding for home and away games. The 2023 Super Netball Grand Final will be played in Victoria.

As part of the deal, both players and coaches will appear in tourism campaigns for the state’s destinations.

Netball Australia CEO Kelly Ryan told the ABC that Visit Victoria was one of several potential sponsors that had reached out to the sporting body after the high-profile fallout of the Hancock Prospecting deal.

The mining company last week ended its four-year sponsorship deal with Netball Australia after player backlash and protests.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said the sponsorship deal was a coup for the state, which already hosts several iconic national sporting events, including the Australian Open, Formula One Grand Prix, AFL Grand Final, The Spring Racing Carnival, and the Boxing Day Cricket Test.

“We are the sporting and major events capital of our nation … to be able to have the world’s very best netball team wearing our logo, projecting all that we offer to the world and the rest of the country, is absolutely fantastic,” he said.

Diamonds captain Liz Watson said in a statement: “This is a significant partnership for the Origin Australian Diamonds as we prepare to defend our Commonwealth Games gold medal in Victoria in 2026.

“Visit Victoria is a proud supporter of netball and this investment will benefit all levels of our game.”

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Victorian Government steps in to sponsor Netball Australia in $15 million deal after Hancock Prospecting partnership was withdrawn

Daniel Andrews said the Visit Victoria logo will be worn by Australian Diamonds players in a new deal with Netball Australia, after a $15 million partnership with Hancock Prospecting was withdrawn.  

The Victorian Government has struck a deal with Netball Australia to sponsor the national Diamonds team, Premier Daniel Andrews has announced. 

The $15 million partnership will run over four-and-a half-years and see the Visit Victoria logo worn by members of the squad in what Mr Andrews described as a "really big win for Victorian jobs and our tourism sector".

Monday's announcement comes after Gina Rinehart's Hancock Prospecting withdrew its $15 million partnership with the Australian Diamonds just over a week ago after players raised concerns about wearing the mining company's logo.  

"We are really thrilled today to be able to announce a four-and-a-half-year sponsorship deal where Visit Victoria will become a significant sponsor for the Australian Diamonds netball team," Mr Andrews told reporters.

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"This is a coup for our state. This is all about supporting netball. Of course our government has such a strong track record of doing that."

As part of the deal, five test matches and the 2023 Super Netball Grand Final will be played in Melbourne.  

In addition to Visit Victoria branding on team uniforms, the logo will be splashed across social media content and on court advertisements.      

"There will be a number of features to this. Players in that national Diamonds team will wear the Visit Victoria logo both on court and indeed with uniforms beyond being on court formally," Mr Andrews said. 

"There will be social media content, digital content, advertising during big games.

"There'll also be courtside a presence as well, taking what is the sports capital, the major events capital... of our nation to the world, it's all about inviting more and more guests to come and stay here, more and more people to visit Victoria."    

Australian players will be made available to promote tourism in Victoria, and help further grow the game in the state.   

"Members of the national squad will be involved in participation efforts at that grassroots level, going out into Victorian communities, particularly culturally and linguistically diverse communities, encouraging young girls and women to get involved in this wonderful sport," Mr Andrews said.

"This is a coup. Other states wanted this but Visit Victoria worked very quickly and very well.

"To be able to have the world's very best netball team wearing our logo, projecting all that we offer to the world and to the rest of our country is absolutely fantastic from a grassroots level, all the way through to attracting more and more visitors to our state." 

The world's best netball team has a new sponsor. Visit Victoria is the new major sponsor of the @AussieDiamonds . pic.twitter.com/PCUh1BmGHb — Dan Andrews (@DanielAndrewsMP) October 31, 2022

Visit Victoria reached out to Netball Australia last week in the aftermath of Hancock Prospecting's announcement, which came less than a month after it was revealed as a high performance program partner of the Diamonds.     

The Visit Victoria deal comes at a crucial time for Netball Australia, which posted a $4.4 million loss in the 2021 financial year.

"Whilst we've always had a very strong partnership with the Victorian Government and Visit Victoria in particular, we were absolutely delighted to be able to work with them really closely and really quickly to create this partnership opportunity," Netball Australia CEO Kelly Ryan said.  

Ms Ryan said it was "different constructed partnership" to the short-lived deal with Hancock Prospecting. 

"Different machinations to the previous sponsorship but obviously the logo on the dress will be one of those assets that Visit Victoria will now have the opportunity to utilise," she said. 

Diamonds captain Liz Watson said the team was "delighted" with the new sponsorship deal, as the squad works towards defending its gold medal at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Victoria.  

Asked "does this deal sit much better with the team than the deal with Hancock Prospecting?", Watson responded: "Obviously I can't speak on behalf of the team".

"But it's really exciting for me, I am a Victorian athlete," she said. 

"I know the girls found out just an hour ago or something and they are really excited."

Hancock Prospecting issued a statement on October 22 announcing it was "regrettably" withdrawing its netball support. 

Indigenous netballer Donnell Wallam had raised objections to the partnership over comments made by Ms Rinehart's father and Hancock Prospecting founder Lang Hancock who in 1984 suggested killing off troublesome Indigenous Australians.

Wallam was set to pursue an exemption from wearing a dress with the sponsor's name when she made her debut for the Diamonds, with her teammates supporting her stance.

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Visit victoria strikes $15 million deal with netball australia after gina rinehart pulls funding.

Multimillion-dollar sponsorship furore strikes netball and cricket

Victorian taxpayers will foot the $15 million bill for sponsoring Australia’s top netball side after mining magnate Gina Rinehart withdrew funding.

Visit Victoria on Monday announced it had inked a four-year partnership with Netball Australia that will run until June 2027.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Sponsorship deal sparks furore.

As part of the deal, the Diamonds will play five Test matches and hold high-performance training camps in Victoria between 2023 and 2026.

The 2023 Super Netball Grand Final will also be played in Victoria regardless of who finishes on top of the ladder.

"It's all unfortunate": PM Albanese comments on netball funding debacle.

“Victoria is our nation’s sporting capital and its best tourist destination – it’s only right we launch this new partnership to back elite netball in Australia and promote our state to the world,” Premier Daniel Andrews said.

“This partnership isn’t just about elite netballers – we’re proud to be supporting grassroots netball clubs and increasing women’s participation in sport in every corner of the state.”

Netball Australia CEO Kelly Ryan said she was “delighted”.

“Victoria is a proud sporting state, and we are delighted to announce a new partnership with Visit Victoria,” she said.

“The partnership will guarantee Victorians the opportunity to experience more netball across the next four and a half years.”

Diamonds Captain Liz Watson said the investment would “benefit all levels of our game”.

Read more of 7NEWS.com.au’s coverage of the sponsorship saga in the links below

Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting withdrew its $15 million sponsorship earlier this month after players were reluctant to embrace its backing.

Indigenous player Donnell Wallam first voiced concerns over comments made by the company’s founder, and Rinehart’s father, Lang Hancock.

The players’ questioning of Hancock Prospecting’s approach to climate change further made them uncomfortable with the association.

After the criticism drew widespread media attention, Rinehart pulled the backing.

Hancock Prospecting in a statement said it did not “wish to add to Netball’s disunity problems”.

“Roy Hill, majority-owned by Hancock, will also be discontinuing its sponsorship arrangement with Netball WA (a member organisation of Netball Australia) to be the principal partner of the West Coast Fever,” it said.

“Hancock and Roy Hill have advised Netball Australia and Netball WA respectively, that it will instead provide a four-month sponsorship should they and their players wish to accept it, to continue funding the athletes and to help netball as it arranges alternative funding and sponsorships.”

Netball loses $15 million as Gina Rinehart pulls sponsorship deal.

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Netball Australia secures $15m sponsorship deal with Visit Victoria after Hancock Prospecting saga

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‘Gobsmacking’: Netball’s $15 million sponsorship deal with Visit Victoria sparks debate

Netball Australia’s fresh $15 million sponsorship deal with Visit Victoria has sparked fierce debate over the use of taxpayer dollars.

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Netball Australia’s new sponsorship deal with Visit Victoria has divided opinion over the use of taxpayer dollars.

On Monday, Netball Australia announced it had signed a $15 million deal through to 2027 with Visit Victoria , the state government’s tourism agency.

The contract is a huge boost to netball and effectively replaces the same amount of funding Hancock Prospecting had committed before it pulled its support earlier this month.

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Under the new deal, the Australian Diamonds will wear Visit Victoria branding on the uniform and players and coaches will appear in tourism campaigns to promote Victoria as a travel destination.

Victoria will effectively become the home of the Diamonds and will host at least one international Test match for the next five years.

The Diamonds will also hold their high performance training camps in the state.

On top of that, the new deal means the 2023 Super Netball Grand Final will be held in Victoria.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said he was “thrilled” to announce the deal, declaring it a “coup” for the state.

He said “other states wanted this but Visit Victoria got in”.

“Obviously, there was a sponsor, that sponsor was no more and so there was a gap and Visit Victoria raced to fill it,” Andrews added.

“It’s a great coup for the sport, but it’s a great coup for all of the content that will come from this, taking our brand (and) all that we have to offer to the rest of our country and indeed to the world.”

Asked if the state government was setting a precedent for using taxpayer money to fund sports if sponsorship deals fall through, Andrews said: “It’s not a matter of precedents … We don’t just set precedents in Victoria, we set the standard for major events. Dua Lipa played last night, Billy Joel is here in a few weeks. So that’s not just sport, it’s about culture.”

Victorian Shadow Treasurer David Davis said a Liberal Victorian government would honour the deal if it won next month’s state election, but it would prefer to see the government spend money in other areas.

“Although this deal was announced the day prior to Caretaker (pre-election period, can confirm that we are not in the business of ripping up contracts and we will be honouring this sponsorship agreement should we be elected to Government,” Davis said.

“While the Netball Australia sponsorship is not undeserved, with $167.5 billion of debt and the deficit blowing out by another $1.8 billion this year, many people will be wondering why Daniel is able to fund netball, but can’t properly fund essential services such as health and fixing Triple-Zero.”

The $15 million investment from Visit Victoria has angered some who believe it could have been spent by the Andrews government elsewhere.

Liberal Democrats MP David Limbrick tweeted: “Did anyone ask the netball players if they’re happy to wear a Victorian Government logo?”

Channel 7 sports commentator David Culbert said: “I’m all for support for sport. But this is gobsmacking.”

But others said the outrage was overblown and there were far worse things governments could invest in other than women’s sport, netball, and attracting tourism.

Sports journalist Marnie Vinall posted: “You know what, I’m OK with my hard-earned taxes going to women’s sport, this rules.”

🥹 watching my tax dollars being invested in women’s sport while ALSO boosting tourism in regional Victoria 🥹 *pinch me* — Jessica Currie (@Jess_M_Currie) October 31, 2022

To everyone who's cross that netball is now sponsored by taxpayers instead of mining billionaires, just get mining companies to pay more tax and then everyone's a winner — Michael Hopkin (@mikehopkin) October 31, 2022

Junkee’s Lavender Baj said: “I promise you your tax dollars get spent on worse stuff.

“Also like your tax dollars fund politicians lunch every day but go off I guess.”

There had been calls for Australian billionaire companies including software firm Atlassian to intervene but Netball Australia has found an alternative.

Netball reporter Dan Coppel said: “Tourism boards have a mandate to spend taxpayer money to bring events and visitors into town. It’s the literal purpose for their existence. Taxpayers pay tourism boards to bring visitors who spend money on local businesses.

“Tourism boards are supposed to bring high quality events, and make positive associations about the location they are advertising. Destination NSW has been successful at this over the years. NT Tourism has been playing with house money ever since “C U in the NT”.

“This deal is a job well done by @visitvictoria - no bones about it. Are there going to be questions about selling hosting rights to the SSN Grand Final? Maybe. Was it worth it? By the looks of things, absolutely yes. If you want to complain about this, it’s because it removes flexibility for SSN fixturing, Diamonds in small regions (South Aust, West Aust, ACT, etc.)

“It’s not because a taxpayer funded agency has fulfilled its mandate to the letter, and helped a national sporting body with a big financial hole. Job well done!”

Netball pundits also pointed out the new sponsorship deal includes a significant investment in grassroots netball and aligns with the upcoming 2026 Commonwealth Games to be held in regional Victoria.

The deal with Visit Victoria will only enhance Melbourne’s status as the so-called sporting capital of the Australia — adding to a calendar already boasting the Australian Open, AFL Grand Final, Melbourne Cup, cricket’s Boxing Day Test match and the Formula 1 Grand Prix at Albert Park.

Meanwhile, West Coast Fever welcomed Netball Australia’s deal with Visit Victoria and said it’s hopeful on finding a new sponsorship after Roy Hill pulled its funding of the Super Netball premiers.

West Coast Fever CEO Simone Hansen said in a statement: “Netball WA is very pleased to hear about Netball Australia’s new partnership with Visit Victoria.

“Last season, WA hosted the SSN (Suncorp Super Netball) Grand Final so we were expecting that the match would be held on the eastern seaboard and this has now been confirmed.

“We have been overwhelmed by the support of the WA community, existing partners and members over the past two weeks and we want to thank everyone for their good will during this time.”

With four Aussie Diamonds stars now in their line-up, an absolutely stacked team is the favourite for the Super Netball title, at least “on paper”.

Super Netball’s pay stoush has cost the Adelaide Thunderbirds dearly as the new season gets set to kick off in 2024.

There has been plenty happening across the Super Netball off-season, and as the new season is upon us hear from all eight coaches about what we can expect from their sides.

Netball Australia lands new $15 million sponsorship deal after Hancock Prospecting withdrawal

After losing the sponsorship of hancock prospecting, netball australia has signed a four-and-a-half year deal with visit victoria..

Netball Australia had been left without a sponsor after Hancock Prospecting withdrew. Source: AAP / James Ross

• Visit Victoria and Netball Australia have signed sponsorship deal worth $15 million
• It comes after Hancock Prospecting withdrew its proposed $15 million sponsorship

Hancock Prospecting withdraws proposed Netball Australia sponsorship after player backlash

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While Gina Rinehart's out, Netball Australia fills $15 million hole with Visit Victoria sponsorship

On Monday morning, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews announced that  Visit Victoria had signed a $15-million sponsorship with Netball Australia (NA), filling the hole left by the withdrawal of previous sponsors, Hancock Prospecting, nine days ago, after the company's chair, Gina Rinehart, withdrew its financial support.

In June, NA released its 2021 financial results, where the national sporting body reported a $7 million loss over the past two years and $4 million debt in bank loans that were due to be paid by the end of the 2022. These loans have now been extended to 2025.

Since then, the sport has tried to generate revenue in various controversial ways, selling its Super Netball Grand Final to the West Australian government, contemplating gambling sponsorship deals and landing a three-year, $15-million partnership with Hancock Prospecting in late September.

However, two weeks after Ms Rinehart's significant investment was made public, the sport found itself in crisis mode, when Diamonds newcomer and First Nations player Donnell Wallam raised concerns about wearing the Hancock Prospecting logo on her playing dress.

Wallam took issue with the genocidal comments made by company founder Lang Hancock during the 1980s — towards Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people — and the rest of the playing group stood united alongside the potential debutante as she requested an exemption.

She had been selected for the Test series currently being played against England — there's now only one game left to come — not the Constellation Cup against New Zealand that was taking place during the time the issue unfolded in the media.

However, the back and forth between NA, the Diamonds and Hancock Prospecting hung over the trans-Tasman series and, ultimately, came to a head a day before the final game, when Ms Rinehart decided to withdraw her sponsorship on the morning of October 22, even though the players, including Wallam, had caved to the pressure and committed to wearing the logo on their dress.

This conflict —  coupled with the news that Australian Test captain Pat Cummins will no longer align himself with cricket's major commercial partner Alinta Energy  — has generated a national discussion about how much say athletes should be given when it comes to sports sponsorship … or whether they should "shut up and dribble" instead of biting the hand that feeds them.

Despite the overwhelming criticism from those who believe the latter, Monday morning's announcement suggests the Diamonds may have won this battle, demonstrating their value to Visit Victoria by claiming back-to-back series victories amid the controversy.

So, what does this mean for the sport?

Mr Andrews confirmed the deal with Visit Victoria would match the $15-million commitment that was on the table with Hancock Prospecting, which is good news for the sport.

However, this sponsorship will run until the end of 2027, while Ms Rinehart's was due to finish up at the end of 2025, meaning it will take place over a longer period, with $3 million invested each year, rather than $5 million.

In another comparison, Hancock Prospecting's deal was to go directly to the Diamonds and NA's high-performance program.

Visit Victoria's partnership aims to promote netball at the elite level, while delivering community initiatives to encourage grassroots participation in the sport, particularly in culturally diverse communities.

The Diamonds will wear the Visit Victoria logo on their dress and hold their high-performance training camps there between 2023 and 2026.

They'll also play at least one match per year during the five-year deal in the state, separate to the 2026 Victorian Commonwealth Games where they'll try to defend their gold medal status.

Beyond the Diamonds' commitments, perhaps the biggest news for Super Netball fans is that next year's grand final will also be held in Victoria, securing home-crowd advantage for, potentially, the Melbourne Vixens or the Collingwood Magpies.

NA sparked controversy when it sold the 2022 decider to Western Australia for $300,000, right before the finals began, later confirming the most important match of the year would continue to be shopped around for at least the next four seasons.

While this goes against the traditional way the grand final has been awarded in the history of the national netball league — typically allocated to the winner of the major semi-final — announcing this news ahead of the season will at least keep everyone on the same page.

What does the deal mean for Victoria?

News of the sponsorship fell a day before the Victorian government moves into caretaker mode, ahead of its November election — and the premier didn't miss the opportunity to front the announcement.

He talked up the deal as a "coup for the state", which would take the image of Victoria as the sporting capital of Australia to the world, drawing in more valuable tourism dollars.

In addition to the Visit Victoria logo on uniforms and games being played in Victoria, he said the Diamonds would be able to help support a raft of tourism campaigns across different media platforms.

The state opposition drew attention to the timing of the announcement, which Shadow Treasurer David Davis described as a "taxpayer deal announced the day prior to caretaker [mode]".

However, he confirmed the opposition would honour the agreement, despite raising questions over whether the $15-million investment was a key priority on the day a budget update revealed a $1.8 billion increase in this year's budget deficit.

Players consulted? Yes or No?

There is confusion as to whether the players were properly consulted during the process of landing this new deal — and, perhaps, what the definition of 'consulted' means.

So far, all that has been confirmed is that there was a quick turnaround for the deal, with a meeting held on Thursday night to let the players know another sponsor had been secured.

The ABC reached out to NA to clarify how this process was carried out but was told the details of the dialogue between the playing group and governing body could not be divulged.

While the Visit Victoria partnership is better aligned with what netball stands for as a sport — and, at this stage, does not seem to have any complications in the First Nations space — this part of the process needs to be taken seriously in future.

With consultation — at least with a player representative or the Australian Netball Players' Association — the sport will be able to win back the trust of its athletes after the messy turmoil that has played out regarding several decisions this year.

Government versus commercial sponsorship

For the critics — particularly ones who have been the loudest in the comments section on any social media post regarding the Diamonds over the past few weeks — their negativity is now focused on pointing out Visit Victoria is backed by government funding and taxpayer money.

However, key figures within netball and various marketing experts independent to the sport have told the ABC the deal is a smart move and drew links to the commercial aspect of the tourism initiative with a home Commonwealth Games on the horizon.

Encouraging netball fans to head to Victoria multiple times in the coming years — while giving off a white-knight energy by swooping in as a bit of a saviour for the sport — feels like a win-win scenario for Visit Victoria.

The experts also suggested that this deal was less about relying on government sponsorship as much as it was proving that sport and politics can, and should, mix.

Meanwhile, those who suggest the commercial appeal of the sport is in trouble may need to double check NA's latest financial report — where it shows that, despite the sport's inability to balance its books, the revenue it generates has risen more than $14 million over the first five years of the all-Australian Super Netball league.

The other pleasing factor, is that netball hasn't lost its bargaining power in the wake of the Hancock Prospecting withdrawal, finding a sponsor that would match the significant investment and, this time, selling the 2023 grand final rights for a larger sum.

While we're on the topic, other major sports in Australia have received government handouts this year, such as the New South Wales government investing $113 million in the NRL, Queensland's $8 million partnership with the AFL and Tasmania's $12 million commitment per year over a 12-year term to establish and support the introduction of a new AFL team.

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Netball Australia signs $15 million sponsorship deal with Visit Victoria

by Madeline Hislop | October 31, 2022

The Victorian government has filled the sponsorship void at Netball Australia, announcing a $15 million partnership with Visit Victoria.

The sponsorship will run until 2027 and comes days after Gina Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting withdrew its sponsorship of Netball Australia, following player backlash. The backlash came after Indigenous player Donnell Wallam expressed her discomfort wearing the Hancock Prospecting logo on the uniform, on account of horrifically racist remarks made by Lang Hancock in the 1980s

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews announced the new partnership deal would help both promote netball in Australia and Victoria as a tourist destination.

“Victoria is our nation’s sporting capital and its best tourist destination – it’s only right we launch this new partnership to back elite netball in Australia and promote our state to the world,” Andrews said on Monday.

“This partnership isn’t just about elite netballers – we’re proud to be supporting grassroots netball clubs and increasing women’s participation in sport in every corner of the state.”

As part of the partnership, the Diamonds will play five test matches and hold their high performance training camps in Victoria between 2023 and 2026. The 2023 Suncorp Super Netball Grand Final will also be played in Victoria.

The partnership will deliver community initiatives to encourage grassroots participation in the sport, particularly in culturally diverse communities.

Netball Australia CEO Kelly Ryan said she was delighted to announced the partnership with Visit Victoria.

“The partnership will guarantee Victorians the opportunity to experience more netball across the next four and a half years,” she said.

Captain of the Diamonds Liz Watson said it was significant for netball.

“This is a significant partnership for the Origin Australian Diamonds as we prepare to defend our Commonwealth Games gold medal in Victoria in 2026,” Watson said.

“Visit Victoria is a proud supporter of netball, and this investment will benefit all levels of our game.”

The partnership was announced on Monday, the morning after Australia won their Test series against the England Roses, with a 56-48 win at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney on Sunday night.

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Taxpayers will now fund Netball Australia's $15 million jersey sponsorship

Victorian taxpayers will foot the bill that rinehart’s hancock prospecting had initially pledged before players took issue with the company..

Jayden Collins

Visit Victoria has come to Netball Australia’s aid announcing a $15 million partnership with the organisation in the wake of Gina Rinehart pulling her sponsorship.

Victorian taxpayers will foot the bill that Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting had initially pledged before players took issue with the company’s record with First Nation’s people.

The sponsorship will run for close to five years until June 2027.

As part of the deal, the Australian netball team will play five test matches and hold training camps in Victoria between 2023 and 2026, according to 7news .

The 2023 Super Netball Grand Final will also be played in Victoria regardless of which two teams make the final.

Premier Daniel Andrews said: “Victoria is our nation’s sporting capital and its best tourist destination – it’s only right we launch this new partnership to back elite netball in Australia and promote our state to the world.

“This partnership isn’t just about elite netballers – we’re proud to be supporting grassroots netball clubs and increasing women’s participation in sport in every corner of the state.”

Netball Australia CEO Kelly Ryan said Visit Victoria was one of many potential partners who had reached out after the deal with the mining magnate.

She says she was ‘delighted’ with the partnership which was ‘very different’ to the one offered by Rinehart and her company.

“So [they] cannot be compared in any way, shape or form, they're two very, very different partnerships," she said.

"And this partnership values the content that we offer, so everything from pathway events, through to the elite competition."

Adding: “The partnership will guarantee Victorians the opportunity to experience more netball across the next four and a half years.”

The Netball Australia players had taken umbrage with offensive comments made by Rinehart's late father Lang Hancock about First Nations people back in 1984.

With Indigenous player Donnell Wallam on their side, they weren’t comfortable with sporting a logo with such negative implications.

While Ryan maintained that the relationship between Rinehart and Netball Australia ended on good terms, the 68-year-old launched a scathing attack on the players.

"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," Hancock Prospecting said in a statement .

The statement added: "Secondly, because there are more targeted and genuine ways to progress social or political causes without virtue signalling or for self-publicity."

They said they did not want 'to add to netball's disunity problems' as it pulled the multi-million dollar funding deal.

It was a huge financial loss for the organisation at the time, however, Netball Australia are now set for a huge boost.

Topics:  Australia

Jayden Collins is a Journalist at SPORTbible. He has worked across multiple media platforms in areas such as sport, music, pop culture, entertainment and politics. He is part of the editorial team for LADbible Australia.

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