Netball NSW hits out at Netball Australia over handling of fines for COVID-19 breaches

Netball NSW has hit out at Netball Australia for its “disappointing” approach to handing down more than $57,000 in fines for COVID-19 protocol breaches by the Giants and Swifts.

The state’s governing body was hit by the fines on Friday after an investigation found team managers had delayed reporting links to COVID-19 exposure sites.

Netball NSW has accepted the fines but is disappointed with the way the situation has been handled. Credit:Getty

Netball Australia found team managers failed to perform daily checks of new exposure sites announced by the Victorian government. As a result, the teams had travelled and trained with members of their party who had visited the sites. Upon realising the risk, it was immediately reported to Netball Australia.

Members of the Swifts’ travelling party were required to isolate for 14 days in Adelaide after being identified as close contacts of people who attended a tier one exposure site in Melbourne.

The Giants were delayed leaving Adelaide after the competition relocated to Queensland in July when it was discovered a number of players and staff had visited a tier one and tier two exposure site in Melbourne.

Netball NSW was fined $10,000 for the Swifts’ delay in reporting the exposure link, and $10,000, suspended for two years, for the Giants’ error. It was also ordered to pay $37,563 for the Giants’ additional flight costs to Queensland because of the delay.

Although willing to pay the fines, Netball NSW said it was disappointed with how the decision was communicated.

Given both clubs moved up to five times across four states in 67 days, Netball NSW chief executive Tain Drinkwater said the mistake was due to human error at an exhausting time.

“It is clear there were delays in reporting exposure links from both our teams and we take ownership of that,” Drinkwater said. “We accept the financial penalties but welcome the acknowledgement that these were not done out of selfishness or disregard for the competition.

“They were simply human errors made in high-pressure and stressful situations, and that context is very important.”

Drinkwater said her organisation was disappointed Netball Australia has disregarded the efforts made by the team managers to keep the season alive.

“Without them there would have been no Super Netball, either this year or last year,” she said.

“While we admit the errors made at our end, we are disappointed that the public correspondence from Netball Australia gives the impression that all fault lies with the NSW Swifts and Giants, which the investigation conceded was not the case.”

Netball NSW has accepted the penalties for both clubs.

“Netball Australia takes any breach of its COVID-19 protocols and directions incredibly seriously,” Netball Australia CEO Kelly Ryan said.

“We understand 2021 was a particularly challenging season and we thank the teams for their sacrifices and commitment. However, we will continue to do everything we can to safeguard the Suncorp Super Netball competition.”

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