Category Archives: Australia sport

AFL ‘not doing enough’ to manage concussion and brain trauma effects, wife of late coach tells inquiry

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Anita Frawley tells parliamentary inquiry the AFL was ‘fantastic’ in caring for her family but needs to do more for other players

The AFL is not doing enough to manage concussion and the long-term effects of brain trauma, Anita Frawley, the widow of AFL player and coach Danny Frawley, has told a parliamentary inquiry.

Giving evidence at a hearing of the federal senate committee inquiry into concussions and repeated head trauma in contact sports, Frawley described the circumstances of her husband’s suicide in 2019, and the posthumous finding that he had suffered from stage two chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), the debilitating neurodegenerative disease caused by repeated head trauma which is increasingly linked to long-term exposure to contact sports.

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AFL Players’ Association claims it has been kept in dark on league’s concussion review plan

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The AFL has not provided a timeline or details on how it will care for injured former players despite pledging urgent action, the association claimed in a submission

The AFL Players’ Association claims it has been kept in the dark for more than six months about the league’s plans to review the clinical care of - and financial assistance for – past players who suffered long-term effects from concussion and other career-ending injuries on the field.

In a submission to the federal parliamentary inquiry into concussion in sport, the players’ association claimed that the AFL has so far failed to provide a timeline or details on what it plans to do to look after injured former players, despite pledging to take urgent action on the matter after its review into the work of its former concussion adviser, neurologist Paul McCrory.

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Swimming Australia CEO Eugenie Buckley resigns with immediate effect

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  • SA on search for third chief executive in less than two years
  • National championships start on Monday on the Gold Coast

Swimming Australia is searching for another new chief executive after the shock resignation of Eugenie Buckley with immediate effect on Friday.

With less than 18 months to go to the Paris Olympics and the national championships starting on Monday on the Gold Coast, Buckley has left “to take up opportunities outside of the sport”, after taking over the top job in swimming in late 2021.

Australian Associated Press contributed to this report

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Laura Tingle becomes ABC staff-elected director – as it happened

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The 7.30 political correspondent will sit on the broadcaster’s board alongside chair Ita Buttrose. This blog is now closed

Report of new gas tax for Australia

The Australian Financial Review is this morning reporting that a new gas tax looms as the government tries to raise revenue to begin budget repair.

Major companies such as Woodside Energy, Santos and Shell and their tax advisers have signed confidentiality agreements with Treasury on the PRRT consultation.

Since Treasury resumed the stalled work for Labor late last year, it has cast the net wider to probe other PRRT areas, such as deductions, in an attempt to raise revenue sooner for the government from the profits-based tax.

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Majority of Australians support banning gambling advertising on TV, study finds

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Concerns raised about links between ads, increased betting and risky behaviour, as well as prevalence of chances to gamble

Australians predominantly support greater restrictions and bans on gambling advertising, which a new study has found to have influenced young and vulnerable people to start betting, place “impulse” wagers or escalate their gambling behaviour.

The research, by the Australian Institute of Family Studies, found that 38% of the adult population gambled at least weekly. Three in four Australians gambled at least once during the past 12 months and, of those, almost half (46%) were classified as being at some risk of harm from wagering.

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Lions coach Chris Fagan believes Gabba power outage gave Melbourne ‘unfair advantage’

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  • Brisbane 14.9 (93) v Melbourne 13.4 (82)
  • Play halted in final quarter after stadium blackout

Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan believes Melbourne were given an “unfair advantage’ as the AFL scrambled to restart their round-two game after a power outage.

The Lions’ 40-point lead was slashed to 11 when Friday night’s contest resumed after a long delay, with the Demons booting five unanswered goals once the lights were turned back on.

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South Australian government faces fresh criticism for hosting Saudi-backed LIV Golf tour

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Human rights campaigners argue there is no difference between thwarted Saudi bid to sponsor Women’s World Cup and its rebel golf funding

The South Australian government’s support of a Saudi-backed golf tournament has come under renewed criticism after the kingdom’s failed attempt to sponsor the Fifa Women’s World Cup.

The LIV golf tour, which has reportedly received billions from Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, will make its Australian debut at the Grange Golf Club in Adelaide next month despite being internationally condemned as an attempt to “sportswash” the regime’s human rights abuses.

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ACT plans hefty restrictions or possible ban on ‘insidious’ sports gambling ads

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Attorney general Shane Rattenbury says territory may take action unilaterally if federal government does not act

The ACT government has outlined plans to legislate hefty restrictions and a possible outright ban on sports gambling ads with senior ministers warning the “pernicious” promotions have caused undue harm to the community.

The confirmation comes as the federal crossbench MPs Monique Ryan and Rebekha Sharkie add their names to a growing list of politicians uncomfortable with the volume of gambling ads and calling for federal government intervention to reduce harm.

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Australia crash to defeat against India in first ODI after losing eight wickets for 59

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  • Hosts chase down 189 despite shaky start left them on 89-5
  • Australians imploded in Mumbai from 129-2

India have overcome a scintillating spell from Mitchell Starc to post a five-wicket win over Australia in the series-opening one-day international clash in Mumbai.

Australia were bowled out for a paltry 188 in 35.4 overs on Friday after suffering a collapse of 8-59.

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AFL boss Gillon McLachlan admits there are too many gambling ads and hints at tighter restrictions

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The CEO’s comments follow criticism from politicians, players and fans who support a ban on TV and radio adverts

The AFL chief executive, Gillon McLachlan, has admitted there are too many gambling ads associated with the sport and indicated restrictions will be tightened as the federal government considers a broader crackdown.

McLachlan’s comments come after criticism from politicians, researchers, health professionals, players, gambling addicts and fans who now overwhelmingly support a ban on sports gambling ads on television and radio to reduce community harm.

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AFL to stick with gambling ads despite more than 75% of fans supporting bans

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A survey found the number of gambling ads was the top concern among fans, ahead of umpiring and rule changes

A deluge of gambling ads is expected to continue this AFL season despite the promotions becoming the most common fan concern and politicians blasting them as “completely and utterly out of step” with community expectations.

Multiple gambling insiders who wished to remain anonymous have told Guardian Australia the volume of ads will remain steady despite increasing criticism, as the online wagering industry becomes more competitive and companies jostle for market share.

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Landmark class action chases up to $1bn compensation for alleged long-term concussion damage to AFL players

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The action, lodged in the Victorian supreme court against the AFL, alleges loss, pain and suffering to more than 60 former players

Former football players are seeking up to $1bn in compensation in a landmark class action lodged in Victoria against the AFL for the serious damage concussion has allegedly caused them.

The action, lodged by Margalit Injury Lawyers in the supreme court of Victoria, is on behalf of all professional AFL players who sustained concussion-related injuries through head strikes while playing or training between 1985 and 14 March this year.

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NRL vows to rid rugby league of racism after alleged slur directed at Latrell Mitchell

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Andrew Abdo has promised the NRL will do all it can to protect its players and eradicate racist fans, after Latrell Mitchell was allegedly abused

NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo has vowed to eradicate racism from the sport as he promised to sanction and educate any fan found to have abused Latrell Mitchell.

Abdo on Friday stopped short of promising a life ban for the spectator who allegedly racially abused Mitchell at Penrith on Thursday night, but said the game would come down hard on any offenders. An investigation into the incident is ongoing.

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NRL cancels annual season launch amid ongoing pay dispute with clubs

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  • NRL did not want to risk players boycotting high-profile event
  • But new CBA terms have been finalised

The NRL’s glitzy annual season launch has been cancelled, clubs have been told, amid the ongoing dispute between the clubs and the governing body.

The NRL’s decision averted any embarrassment for the governing body if the players had decided to boycott the high-profile event following the ongoing collective bargaining agreement dispute.

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Saudi Arabia to sponsor Women’s World Cup and tighten ties with Fifa

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  • Tourist authority joins international brands on list
  • World Cup starts on 20 July at Eden Park, Auckland

Saudi Arabia’s tourist authority is to sponsor football’s Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand this year, despite the country’s history of oppression of women’s rights.

Fifa is expected to confirm that Visit Saudi will join international brands such as Adidas, Coca-Cola and Visa in attaching its name to the 32-team tournament that will kick off in front of an expected 50,000 supporters at Auckland’s Eden Park on 20 July.

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Novak Djokovic joins calls for Australian Open to address schedule issues

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  • Concerns raised over late finishes at Melbourne Park
  • ‘It’s really gruelling,’ says Serbian nine-times champion

Novak Djokovic has added his voice to calls for changes to be made to the Australian Open schedule amid growing concern over player welfare and fairness at this year’s tournament at Melbourne Park.

Andy Murray was forced to back up just a day and a half after a gruelling near-six hour epic against Thanasi Kokkinakis that did not finish until 4am local time, a match that highlighted the issue for the first time at this year’s grand slam.

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Kurtley Beale: Wallabies winger granted bail and denies Bondi sexual assault allegations

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Beale was ordered to surrender his passport, not contact witnesses and to report to police daily after appearing in Parramatta local court

High-profile rugby union player Kurtley Beale has denied sexually assaulting a woman in Sydney’s eastern suburbs last year after he was charged over the alleged incident.

The 34-year-old Wallabies winger was ordered on Saturday to surrender his passport, not contact witnesses and to report to police daily after he was granted bail in Parramatta local court.

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Michael Clarke and partner Jade Yarbrough fined by Queensland police over Noosa dispute

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Former Australian Test captain and Yarbrough fined with public nuisance

Former Australian Test captain Michael Clarke and his girlfriend have been fined after their public spat in Noosa.

Vision emerged on Wednesday of an expletive-laden argument with Clarke, partner Jade Yarbrough and her brother-in-law, Karl Stefanovic.

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Wallabies star Kurtley Beale arrested over alleged sexual assault at Sydney hotel

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Rugby union player is being questioned over report a 28-year-old woman was sexually assaulted at a Bondi Beach venue

The rugby union star Kurtley Beale has been arrested over an alleged sexual assault.

The 33-year-old Wallabies winger was taken into custody by police on Friday over an alleged incident in Sydney’s east on 17 December.

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Flags and Wallies: Melbourne Park fans spark player anger at Australian Open

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  • Djokovic rails at ‘drunk’ spectator on Rod Laver Arena
  • Russian player Rublev barracked by Ukraine supporters

Spectators at the Australian Open were in the spotlight on Thursday after separate incidents sparked player anger on the court at Melbourne Park and the crowd stayed until 4am watching Thanasi Kokkinakis play Andy Murray.

In his second-round match against France’s Enzo Couacaud on Rod Laver Arena, Novak Djokovic complained to the umpire after appearing to be barracked by a supporter, one of several dressed in a Where’s Wally? costume.

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