Chapter 1

Introduction

1.1        On 28 August 2008, the Senate referred the following matter to the Senate Standing Committee on Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport for inquiry and report by 30 June 2009:

1. whether the decision of the Australian Football League (AFL) Board of Commission to prioritise admission to its competition of teams from Western Sydney and the Gold Coast over a proposed team for Tasmania is fair and equitable;

2. the capacity of the State of Tasmania to sustain a team in the peak national Australian Rules Football competition;

3. the regional implications of the establishment of an AFL team in Tasmania for economic development;

4. whether the AFL commissioners' obligations to current supporters of the game override their desire to promote larger television audiences for it; and

5. other related matters.

Conduct of the inquiry

1.2        The committee received four submissions and held a public hearing in Melbourne on 27 March 2009. Details of submitters and witnesses at the hearing are included at Appendices 1 and 2.

1.3        The issues raised during the inquiry are included in the following chapter.

Acknowledgements

1.4        The committee would like to thank those who submitted and provided evidence at public hearings.

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