Origin is thrilled:
Origin Energy will continue to sponsor Netball Australia and the Diamonds as the company’s chief executive said he welcomes any athletes who speak out on climate change and other social issues – even if that could bring them into direct conflict with their employers or corporate backers.
As Netball Australia reels from the sudden withdrawal of Hancock Prospecting’s $15 million deal after Diamonds players voiced reservations over historical racist comments made by Gina Rinehart’s father, Origin chief Frank Calabria confirmed there was no prospect of his organisation pulling their financial support from the embattled sport.
Nor has the recent movement of athletes like Pat Cummins, who raised ethical objections regarding climate change with Cricket Australia over their sponsorship with Alinta Energy, discouraged Origin from any future partnerships with sporting teams, leagues or associations, which Calabria said should be based on shared values rather than the mere placement of a “logo on a shirt”.
Why wouldn’t it be thrilled? Here it is, a founding member of the Evil Gas Cartel that is singularly trashing Aussie living standards as it war-profiteers Ukrainian suffering, and it’s coming off like a liberal hero.
If there was ever an example of how completely lost and useless our political economy has become it is this.
A celebrated team of progressive women celebrates the retention of its major sponsor, which just happens to be engaged in the most egregious and damaging class war in modern Australian history via energy prices.
And everybody is grateful for it!
