Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has been slammed for giving $15million of taxpayers’ cash to Netball Australia after its earlier sponsorship deal collapsed.
The peak sporting physique was saved from monetary wipeout by Mr Andrews’ intervention, after billionaire Gina Rinehart withdrew a $15million sponsorship by her firm Hancock Prospecting.
Indigenous participant Donnell Wallam expressed issues about sporting the corporate brand on her uniform for her debut worldwide in opposition to England. This was as a result of in 1984 Ms Rinehart’s father Lang Hancock talked in an invterview about sterilising Aboriginal communities by ‘shooting up’ their water provide.
Mr Andrews got here beneath hearth on Facebook nearly instantly following Monday’s announcement – with many viewing the intervention cynically, coming forward of the state election on Saturday, November 26.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews is pictured addressing the media at a press convention in Melbourne on Monday, October 31, 2022. Visit Victoria will sponsor Netball Australia for the subsequent 4 and a half years in a $15million deal
Mr Andrews described the deal as a coup for the state.
‘Obviously there was a sponsor. That sponsor was no extra so there was a niche and Visit Victoria raced to fill it,’ he informed reporters.
‘Other states needed this however Victoria secured it.’
But an enormous variety of folks do not share the Premier’s view that it was definitely worth the state’s cash, with many dashing to remark about it on-line.
‘Andrews splashes out one other $15m whereas it was solely this morning on the news they talked about the state of Victoria is deep debt …and but this doesn’t shock me in any respect,’ stated one.
‘Great how they will simply throw our cash round prefer it’s theirs. So a lot better issues to spend taxpayers {dollars} on then (sic) some ungrateful sportspeople,’ stated one other.
Netball Australia probably confronted monetary break after Ms Rinehart’s pullout, however the Andrews government threw it a lifeline on Monday, saying Visit Victoria would be the new sponsor.
Australia Diamonds participant Donnell Wallam (pictured) expressed issues about sporting the Hancock Prospecting brand on her uniform for her debut worldwide in opposition to England
‘We actually have to vote this wacko out. Afraid if he will get again in he’ll go straight to China for cash…….which he already tried and scomo stopped him, Airbus albo will solely assist him, he is simply GOT TO GO,’ one stated.
Another stated ‘That may be very gracious of Dan Andrew’s (sic). I assume nothing to do with election.’
A whole lot of commenters made reference to how the $15million can be higher spent on well being or serving to folks affected by flooding in Victoria.
‘Buy $15 mil value of ambulances and also you may get my vote, however internet ball you will get STUFFED,’ stated one.
Pictured are a number of on-line feedback slamming Victorian Premier Dan Andrews over the state’s $15million sponsorship of Netball Australia
‘Mr Andrews it could be trick or deal with night time, however cease giving the states cash out like lollies. The well being system is stuffed and our roads are a shame, however no basketball (sic) will get $ 15m,’ stated one other.
Not everybody posting a remark discovered fault although, with a couple of welcoming the sponsorship deal that can see the Diamonds put on Visit Victoria branding on their workforce equipment.
One poster stated she was a ‘bit confused by some folks’s horror of spending in sport.
‘Is a state government solely in a position to put money into hospital, roads, homelessness, flood aid?’
Gina Rinehart (pictured) withdrew her supply of a $15million sponsorship deal for Netball Australia after a racism furore over feedback her father Lang Hancock made nearly 40 years in the past
Another echoed that, saying it was ‘a fantastic funding by Visit Victoria, out of their ALLOCATED BUDGET to sponsor the perfect netball workforce on the planet!
‘The tourism it will generate, from the Diamond’s matches being performed in Victoria, might be value it.’
Under the settlement, which runs till June 2027, subsequent 12 months’s Super Netball Grand Final might be performed in Victoria.
The Diamonds may even play 5 Test matches in Victoria, in addition to maintain coaching camps there, between 2023 and 2026.