Billionaire Gina Rinehart's mining company Hancock Prospecting has pulled the plug on its controversial sponsorship of Netball Australia in a major blow to the sport's financial future.
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Hancock had agreed a $15 million sponsorship deal over four years, due to go directly to the high-performance program, with netball's cash-strapped governing body.
The deal appeared to be a lifeline after Netball Australia (NA) suffered losses of more than $7 million in two COVID-impacted years, but it caused ructions within the Diamonds.
Indigenous player Donnell Wallam, a Noongar woman from Western Australia, had raised concern over the company's record on Indigenous matters, which date back 40 years to offensive comments by Rinehart's late father Lang Hancock.
Wallam was reportedly considering seeking an exemption from wearing the sponsor's logo, as athletes in other sports have done when a sponsor doesn't align with their beliefs or religion.
But the issue flared when Wallam's teammates wanted to stand with her.
It prompted a week of turmoil and while NA and Diamonds skipper Liz Watson both stressed their support for the Hancock deal amid the turmoil, the mining company pulled out of the sponsorship on Saturday.
NA chief executive Kelly Ryan lamented the announcement, which also confirmed Roy Hill, majority-owned by Hancock, will withdraw its sponsorship of Netball WA and the West Coast Fever.
"We acknowledge the difficulties and impact of recent discussions and are disappointed to see them withdraw the partnership," Ryan said in a statement.
"This is a loss for our whole sport, from grassroots through to the elite program.
"Netball Australia is a strong, resilient organisation and we will continue working around the clock to secure the future of the sport and explore all opportunities that are available."
The companies have offered NA and Netball WA a four-month sponsorship to fund athletes while they look for new partners.
Diamonds players expressed their disappointment with the mining company's decision but rejected reports they were protesting on environmental grounds.
In a statement posted to Twitter by defender and Australian Netball Players' Association president Jo Weston, the Diamonds said they were supporting Wallam.
"Reports of a protest on the part of the players, on environmental grounds and a split within the playing group are incorrect," the statement said.
"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' Sisters in Arms legacy and the values this represents, alongside Australian Netball's Declaration of Commitment."
NA chair Wendy Archer said "every effort has been made from all parties to resolve the issues surrounding the sensitivities of the partnership" but a mutually satisfactory agreement couldn't be reached.
Hancock had taken a dig at tensions between NA and the Players Association, especially the union's bid for pay rises.
"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 effective immediately," Hancock said in a statement.
The mining company said it hadn't insisted the Diamonds wear their branding, and was confident players had supported the sponsorship.
The Hancock logo had been expected to feature on the Diamonds' uniforms through the Constellation Cup series against New Zealand but ultimately only featured on a press conference background banner in Melbourne.
The sponsorship news comes a day before the final Constellation Cup game against New Zealand, with Sunday's clash on the Gold Coast to determine the series winner.
Australian Associated Press
