Netball Australia has landed a $15 million sponsorship agreement with Visit Victoria after Hancock Prospecting pulled out of its contract with the sport.
The new deal will run from 2023 to 2027 and the Diamonds will wear Visit Victoria branding on their uniforms. Players and coaches will also feature in campaigns to promote Victoria as a tourist destination,
The Diamonds will also play at least one international Test match in Victoria every year for the next five years. The team will also hold their high performance training camps in the state and the 2023 Super Netball Grand Final will be be held in Victoria.
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.”
Victoria already hosts the Australian Grand Prix, Australian Open, Melbourne Cup, and cricket’s Boxing Day Test match.
“Victoria is a proud sporting state and we are delighted to announce a new partnership with Visit Victoria,” said Netball Australia chief exec Kelly Ryan.
“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.”
Hancock Prospecting had been the team’s previous sponsor but reneged on its deal with the Diamonds. Indigenous netballer Donnell Wallam had criticised the deal, referencing comments made by Lang Hancock, the company’s founder and father of current CEO Gina Reinhart. In 1984, Hancock publicly supported sterilisation as a solution to what was referred to at the time as “the Aboriginal problem”. Reinhart has never publicly commented on her father’s views.
Wallam’s fellow players supported her and, following meetings with Netball Australia, it became clear that Hancock felt its position was no longer tenable given the comments. Wallam was said to be “devastated” following the news that Hancock was pulling out of the deal, considering Netball Australia’s precarious financial position.
This new sponsorship, however, should hopefully make Netball Australia and the Diamonds’ financial position less precarious.
“This is a significant partnership for the Origin Australian Diamonds as we prepare to defend our Commonwealth Games gold medal in Victoria in 2026,” said Australia Diamonds captain Liz Watson.
“Visit Victoria is a proud supporter of netball and this investment will benefit all levels of our game.”
