Netball Australia says it will do better after performer who pleaded guilty to domestic violence sings at grand final
Siala Robson, a former finalist on The Voice, fronted the Redcliffe and Cleveland Magistrate's Courts in Queensland in 2024 over a series of charges relating to a 2023 incident.
Robson pleaded guilty to two assaults occasioning bodily harm in a public place while adversely affected by an intoxicating substance. No conviction was recorded.
Robson was ordered to pay $1,000 in compensation and given a community service order of 60 hours.
During Saturday's Super Netball grand final — which was watched by a record crowd of 15,013 — Robson performed as a three-prong act put together by Universal Music.
The Australian Netball Players' Association (ANPA), which has taken a strong stand against domestic violence over the past two seasons, said in a statement that the oversight had created "genuine hurt" in player circles.
"This decision has caused genuine hurt among the playing group and undermines the values they stand for — particularly their strong and ongoing commitment to ending domestic violence," the statement read.
"We acknowledge that Netball Australia has accepted responsibility for this serious oversight and we appreciate that it is taking steps to improve its processes to ensure such a situation does not happen again.
"Our players have consistently used their platform to advocate for change … and continue to work on further initiatives aimed at making Australia safer for all."
Netball Australia, which has also been strong in taking a stand against domestic violence, said it had been unaware of the charges against Robson and that greater detail would be paid to event risk management protocols in the future.
"Regrettably, Netball Australia was not aware of the offence or allegations pertaining to one of the artists before the event," a spokesperson told ABC Sport.
"This was brought to our attention post-performance on Saturday evening.
"Netball Australia has a zero-tolerance position on violence and actively campaigns against domestic violence with the support of our playing group, who are deeply connected to this society-wide issue.
"With respect to the necessary checks and balances in place, we relied on the third-party agency we partnered with to supply the talent.
"This was not sufficient and Netball Australia will immediately strengthen its event risk management protocols to ensure this doesn't happen again."
In 2024, athletes from each of the eight Super Netball clubs wore purple armbands during matches from round five onwards to "shine a light on the national crisis" of domestic violence.
ANPA delegates also released a social media video this season discussing why they thought domestic and family violence were the most urgent social issues facing Australian women.
Earlier this year, Diamonds goal shooter Cara Koenen went public with her personal experience as a victim of sexual assault in an effort to speak out against the wider issue of violence against women.
"I had an experience that really rocked my whole world, to be honest," Koenen told ABC Sport.
"We hear so much about how our actions lead to these violent acts … that rhetoric that there's something you've done wrong that led to the abuse.
"That was something I really grappled with.
"It became all-consuming in all parts of my life … I couldn't escape it."
"My confidence on court was deteriorating and training and playing were no longer an escape or a place I could use to distract myself."
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