Talking Rot

Last week I wrote about gambling issues in Australian sport.
There have been two significant developments this week to share.
Yesterday (10 June) at the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) on the Gold Coast, state sport ministers agreed a national policy on match-fixing in sport. They have established a working group to develop an implementation plan for the national policy (Press Statement here. Australian Sports Commission news item here.)
Key features of the policy are:

  • Agreement to pursue nationally consistent legislative arrangements
  • Legal arrangements and integrity agreements between sports and betting companies which will include requirements to share information, provide sports with a right to veto bet types and provide a financial return from sports betting to sports
  • The adoption of codes of conduct by sports
  • The establishment of a National Integrity of Sport Unit to oversee the national
    arrangements and provide support for smaller sports
  • Government funding will be contingent on sports implementing appropriate anti-match-fixing and anti-corruption policies and practices.

The Chief Executive Officers of Australia’s seven major codes (AFL, ARU, Cricket, Football, Netball, NRL and Tennis) who are the founding members of the Coalition of Major Professional and Participation Sports (COMPPS) proposed an anti-corruption strategy to the Federal Sports Minister, Mark Arbib. (See Swimming’s support of these proposals here.)

COMPPS is calling for a new criminal offence of “cheating in connection with sports wagering”.  It suggests that Victoria’s Sports Betting Act be adopted in all States and Territories in order that betting providers can share information with sports, including details of suspicious betting. Another recommendation is that sports should have a right to veto types of spot or exotic betting.
Photo Credit
The Cauldron
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2 COMMENTS

  1. Sport is a great metaphor life, the good, the bad and the downright ugly aspects of our existence on the planet. It is important we work hard to get this issue right. Like me, I am sure that many cricket fans have been more than just dismayed at the reports in recent years of match-fixing in the most honourable of sports. It has been terrible!
    Although not exactly what you are talking about here, Keith, this post makes me remember what Mum said, in the 80s, about the trouble that would come from the ‘professionalisation of amateur sport’. She was disappointed that the Olympics was allowing professional sports – like basketball – into the fold. I dismissed this thinking as Mum being ‘old-fashioned’, as teens do. Maybe there is something in this ‘separation’ even if the issues for individuals, of funding their pursuits is challenging. Just a half-formed thought. Need to think about this more.

    • Thanks for making time to read and comment, Darcy.
      We should listen to our Mums more! I agree that there is an essence of sport and have become profoundly interested in play and intrinsic motivation.
      I think this resonates with your view of education.
      I need to think more about this too and need to sort out my thoughts on fragmented conscience and selective indignation.
      Enjoy the long weekend.
      Keith

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