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The Australian Sports Commission (ASC) says it may withdraw funding from the Australian Football League (AFL), if a hearing currently before the Victorian Civil Administrate Tribunal (VCAT) goes poorly.
The ASC is an Australian government body that contributes funding to sporting organizations, and develops programs that ensure sport is accessible and safe for all.
Currently the commission provides $460,000 per annum to the AFL.
Spokesperson for the ASC, Debbie Sims, told MCV that “the ASC is unhappy with the way the AFL has handled the Ken Campagnolo case”.
The case, which is currently before VCAT, involves bisexual football trainer, Ken Campagnolo, who was sacked by the Bonnie Doon football club over fears parents might object to a bisexual man working with their children. Consequently he has taken both the Victorian Country Football League (VCFL) and the AFL to VCAT.
The VCFL has since introduced policy to address homophobia within their code, but the AFL effectively washed its hands of the case, stating their anti- discrimination policy applies only to players and administrators who compete in the AFL. Simultaneously however, the AFL asserts its is the peak body all sub-leagues, such as the VCFL, should refer to.
Campagnolo is calling for the AFL to follow in the VCFL’s footsteps and implement the same anti-homophobia policy.
Sims continued: “We are waiting on the outcomes of the VCAT hearing but we are not happy with the AFL on this. When we have the outcomes of the hearing we will decide what will happen with funding, but at this stage we are waiting to see which way we will go.”
Advocates for Campagnolo welcome the ASC’s interest in the case.
“The Australian Sports Commission do grass roots development, so this is a major development,” said Rob Mitchell from the RJM Trust, who has been in discussion with the ASC about Campagnolo and the AFL.
“Up until now the ASC were under the impression that the AFL were using that $460,000 for grass member projects and development at community level, which was in the funding agreement.
“They were surprised about the AFL’s reaction to Ken Campagnolo’s case; they want to see what the AFL has in writing in regards to tackling homophobia.”
Mitchell says that RJM Trust are planning to start an awareness campaign aimed at the LGBTI community, and encouraging people to write to the federal Minister for Sport, Kate Ellis, demanding the AFL be audited on their use of community funds.
“The AFL doesn’t pay any income tax, so that tax is something the Australian community misses out on; and so the Australian community funds them that way as well. They should be accountable for the funding they get,” Mitchell said.
“We have been under the illusion they are looking after everybody, and by their own admission they are not,” he added.
Toyota Australia, which has previously targeted the gay market, is the AFL’s major sponsor.
Todd Connelly, a spokesperson for Toyota Australia told MCV that the company was not planning on withdrawing any support from the AFL.
“We are simply sponsors and we don’t become involved in those issues. We leave that to the AFL and the sporting commission."
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