Australia’s Diamonds hit back at Gina Rinehart after $15million netball sponsorship withdrawn

Australian star netballers have hit back at Gina Rinehart after the multibillionaire sensationally withdrew her $15 million sponsorship, denying the suggestion that there was a “split” between players.

Hancock Prospecting withdrew the lucrative partnership deal on Saturday, claiming in a statement that it “does not want to contribute to netball’s divisive problems.”

But the Diamonds have since issued their own statement “to clear up some misconceptions,” saying there was only “one single concern.”

“Reports of a protest by the players, for environmental reasons and a split within the playing group are incorrect,” the statement said.

The Diamonds statement clarified that the issue of concern was raised in “support for our only Indigenous team member,” Donnell Wallam.

The players added that they are “completely committed to the legacy of Diamonds’ Sisters in Arms… and values.”

“We are disappointed to hear that Hancock Prospecting has withdrawn their sponsorship offer,” the Diamonds said.

“As Netball Australia has emphasized, these funds go into Diamonds’ high-quality and support programs, so we, the players, have the most to lose.”

The sponsorship collapsed after the team became concerned about the mining company’s environmental impact and made comments about Indigenous Australians by Ms Rinehart’s father Lang Hancock in the 1980s.

Donnell Wallam, a proud Aboriginal woman and Diamonds plater was reportedly uncomfortable wearing the uniform with the Hancock Prospecting logo.

Ms Rinehart’s company released a statement on Saturday announcing it would withdraw its support from the Australian team.

Contrary to media reports, Hancock Prospecting has not insisted that his name be carried by the Australian Diamonds in the current Constellation Cup series overseas, Hancock Prospecting said.

“Hancock and Roy Hill do not want to add to Netball’s divisive problems and so Hancock has informed the governing body that it has withdrawn from the proposed partnership, effective immediately.”

Following Ms Rinehart’s decision, Netball Australia chairman Wendy Archer said she understood the decision, although it was “a disappointing outcome” in a “challenging” situation.

“Although all parties have made efforts to resolve the issues surrounding the partnership’s sensitivities, unfortunately we have not been able to reach a mutually satisfactory outcome,” said Ms Archer.

The partnership between Hancock Prospecting and Netball Australia is reportedly worth $3.5 million a year through the end of 2025.

It comes as a huge blow to the sports organization after it struggled to find a major sponsor who was willing to pay $15 million.

“Hancock’s proposed sponsorship would have enabled a generous pay increase for the players, which would otherwise not have been possible given Netball’s financial situation,” said Hancock Prospecting.

The company has promised to fund the team in the short term until it is able to land a new sponsorship.

Hancock and Roy Hill have advised Netball Australia and Netball WA respectively that it will instead provide a four-month sponsorship if they and their players are willing to accept it, to continue funding the athletes and to help Netball arrange alternative funding and sponsorship,” the company said.

In a 1984 television interview, Mr Hancock made a shocking statement about Indigenous Australians.

“Those who aren’t good to themselves and can’t accept things, the half-castes — and this is where most of the trouble comes in,” said Mr. Hancock in the 1984 documentary, “Can’t Be Fairer.”

“I would anesthetize the water so that they are sterile and would reproduce in the future and that would solve the problem.”

Hancock died in 1992 at the age of 82, saying that Indigenous Australians who had been “assimilated” should be left alone.

“Those who are assimilated to, you know, earn a good living or earn wages in the civilized areas,” he said.

“Those who have been accepted into society and they have accepted society and can handle society, I would leave them alone.”

Former Diamonds captain Sharni Norder told the current squad that Hancock Prospecting is “a company that does not fit in with Netball Australia’s values.”

Ms. Rinehart previously said that climate change is not a man-made phenomenon.

“We’ve always stood up for social justice, we’ve always been against gambling, no smoking… and there were and are other ways to seek sponsorship,” said Ms Norder, Ambassador of the Sports Environment Alliance.

‘Long Hancock’s past and what he said about the Indigenous peoples just isn’t suited to Australian sport.

“Netball Australia has always tried to be inclusive… we now have Donnell (Wallam) on the team.

“This is not a respectful course of action and even if Donnell wasn’t on the team, we need to do better.”

Despite her father’s opinion, Ms. Rinehart has contributed to charitable work in Indigenous communities.

Clinton Wolf, director of the National Indigenous Times publication, wrote Monday that the negativity towards Netball Australia’s sponsorship was “hypocritical.”

Mr. Wolf is a non-executive director of Madalah, an indigenous children’s charity.

He said Ms Rinehart had devised a “multi-million dollar multi-year funding scheme” for the charity after the Western Australian government refused.

“Madalah is proud to say that Ms. Gina Rinehart’s businesses are among Madalah’s most important sponsors and supporters,” he wrote.