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Following reported objections to its sponsorship among the Diamonds playing group, Hancock Prospecting has announced that it will withdraw its sponsorship of Netball Australia’s elite programs.

The mining and agricultural conglomerate had signed a partnership that would have seen it provide $15 million in funding to Netball Australia up to 2025.

However, in a statement released early this afternoon, the company announced the cessation of the sponsorship, although it noted  that it would continue short-term payments for a period of four months in order to allow Netball Australia to find a new sponsor.

With Netball Australia having lost $7.2 million in the past two years, the sponsorship of the Diamonds’ high performance program, announced in late September, was vital to the sport.

However, following a week in which sponsorships by energy and mining companies in the arts and sport have been in question, prompted by the actions of Diamonds player group, the statement from Hancock Prospecting made reference to Netball Australia’s "disunity problems” advising the sponsorship deal would have allowed the athletes greater pay moving forward.

The statement read "Hancock and Roy Hill’s recently proposed partnerships with Netball Australia and Netball WA were based on the unwavering enthusiasm that Hancock and its executive chairman for over 30 years have demonstrated for the athletes who proudly represent our nation.

"Hancock and Roy Hill were not made aware prior to the proposed partnerships, of the complexity of existing issues between Netball Australia and the Players Association.

"This includes the Players Association's endeavours to gain a very substantial increase in wages during a time the sport is reeling financially, and unable to provide such an increase.

"Hancock's proposed sponsorship would have enabled a generous increase in wages for the players which would not have otherwise been possible given netball's financial situation.”

The statement added "Hancock and Roy Hill do not wish to add to Netball's disunity problems, and accordingly Hancock has advised Netball Australia (the governing body of netball in Australia) that it has withdrawn from its proposed partnership effective immediately."

Netball Australia chair Wendy Archer said she regretted that 'recent turbulence' had resulted in the withdrawal, declaring "we are grateful that Hancock Prospecting continued to stand by our sport throughout the recent turbulence and we regret the impact this has had on the company.

"This has been a challenging period for all involved and while every effort has been made from all parties to resolve the issues surrounding the sensitivities of the partnership, unfortunately we have not been able to achieve a mutually satisfactory outcome."

Archer, who replaced Marina Go as Netball Australia Chair on Monday in what the sport had claimed been “a planned transition” said the players had been supportive throughout this process and refuted claims that the Diamonds had engaged in any form of boycott or refused to wear uniforms with the Hancock Prospecting logo during the recent games in New Zealand.

Archer said the organisation would now "reassess its funding options" before making a decision on the four-month sponsorship offer.

Netball Australia Chief Executive, Kelly Ryan also lamented the end of the sponsorship adding “this is a loss for our whole sport, from grassroots through to the elite program.

"Netball Australia is a strong, resilient organisation and we will continue working around the clock to secure the future of the sport and explore all opportunities that are available."

Hancock Prospecting continues to sponsor the Australian swim team and Rowing Australia.

However, Roy Hill’s $2 million, four-year deal with Netball WA has also been ended.

Click here to read the Hancock Prospecting statement in full.

Images: The Diamonds on court during the recent Commonwealth Games in Birmingham (top, credit: Netball Australia) and Hancock Prospecting Executive Chairman Gina Rinehart (below, credit: Hancock Prospecting/James Radford).

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