Netball Australia and the eight Suncorp Super Netball clubs are disappointed the Australian Netball Players’ Association (ANPA) has rejected a groundbreaking Collective Player Agreement (CPA) proposal.
Since February, Netball Australia and the Suncorp Super Netball clubs have been trying to reach a resolution with the ANPA on a new CPA.
Throughout negotiations, Netball Australia and the clubs have made significant concessions in good faith to finalise the deal and build a strong partnership model with the ANPA and Suncorp Super Netball players.
Netball Australia and the ANPA met again on Saturday, and we continue to offer to meet to finalise a deal. Netball Australia and the clubs are not opposed to mediation, but we are concerned beginning the process at this late stage would extend this already lengthy process and continue to delay the stability and certainty all parties seek.
Under the latest offer, Netball Australia would increase its investment by $1.275 million – a 20 per cent boost across the three-year deal – on top of the earning potential of a profit-share partnership model. This is without any forecast material increase in the sport’s revenue in the short term, given the current broadcast deal runs until 2026.
Players would receive a base wage increase of nine per cent over three years, increased potential commercial earnings, extra playing and earning opportunities with the introduction of rookies and for the first time ever in netball, a share in Netball Australia’s profits generated by the Suncorp Super Netball League. The maximum salary cap would also increase by three per cent.
The ANPA has rejected this proposal.
The Suncorp Super Netball League is an incredible competition. It is the best netball league in the world. However, Netball Australia and the eight clubs have simply reached their capacity to make further concessions to the ANPA and players without jeopardising the health of the league and its teams, their respective stakeholders, and the entire netball eco-system in Australia.
With locked in material revenues for the next three years, Netball Australia also has an obligation to sustain and grow the league, ensure the viability and health of the Suncorp Super Netball clubs, and support the game of netball in Australia.
ANPA continues to campaign for a revenue share model as part of this CPA. An independent report found revenue share is currently unsuitable for netball, as it would affect the sustainability of the sport.
Any further increases to player wages beyond this current offer would be irresponsible, as they would come at the cost of funding for community and grassroots netball.
The three-year deal proposed by Netball Australia and the clubs would provide much-needed stability for the players, clubs and the league. It would ensure we can all focus on working together collectively to grow our great game.
We appeal to the ANPA to re-consider our revised three-year offer and present it to all Suncorp Super Netball players so they can have their say.
Three-year CPA offer from Netball Australia and the Suncorp Super Netball clubs:
- A 3-year term from 1 October 2023 to 30 September 2026, running in parallel with the term of the current Foxtel Group broadcast agreement.
- Players and clubs may enter into 1, 2 or 3 year contracts.
- Annual increases of 3% in guaranteed player base salary and private health insurance contributions (based on a materially higher threshold after the previous year’s 22% CPA increase)
- A 3% increase to the maximum salary cap.
- For the first time in the sport’s history, a profit-share partnership model would be introduced where players would benefit from a new profit share out-performance mechanism. It would see players receive 25% of league generated profits, after Netball Australia retains the first $500,000 in league generated profits.
- An increase in the minimum base salary in 2024 of 10% to $44,000, and then annual increases during the 3-year term of 3%.
- Additional commercial earning potential for players through increases to the Additional Part A caps and improvements to the approval of third-party agreements.
- An initial increase of 10% in both the Nominated Athlete honorarium and weekly payments for 2024, and then 3% annual increases during the 3-year term.
- The introduction of rookies – whereby one nominated training partner per club is eligible for selection outside of injury or illness.
- The establishment of the Professional Netball Committee with formal ANPA representation to work collaboratively through new opportunities for continued progression for athletes and the amplification of the league.
- Increasing ANPA investment by 30% to $425,000 (excluding GST) in each year of the CPA term.
