A guide to Australia’s new National Sports Tribunal

In November 2018, we published an article1 summarising the key points from the Report of the Review of Australia’s Sports Integrity Arrangements (Wood Review),2 which was produced at the request of the Australian Government as part of developing the country’s Sport 2030 - National Sport Plan. On 11 February 2019, the Australian Government released its Response,3 which agreed, or agreed in principle, with many of the recommendations contained therein (a helpful summary table of its recommendations can be found at pages 10-25 of the Response).4

One of the key recommendations made by the Wood Review was for the Government to establish a National Sports Tribunal to ensure the fair hearing and resolution of sports-related disputes for the Australian sporting community. Taking this recommendation on board, the Australian Legislature has recently enacted the National Sports Tribunal Act 20195 (NST Act) establishing a National Sports Tribunal (NST) for a two-year pilot period. The stated aim of the NST is to “provide for an effective, efficient, independent, transparent and specialist tribunal for the fair hearing of sporting disputes” (Section 3(1)).6

This article provides a summary of the key provisions of the NST Act and highlights points for discussion on how its introduction could impact those practising in sports in Australia. It is not intended to provide a summary of administrative steps or details of procedures which are to be followed in referring a dispute for arbitration or appeal.