Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Now we know that NT Hockey has been punching well
above their weight, producing some of the biggest names in
the sport, but despite that, it's been locked out of
the country's only national franchise, Hockey One. We know that
Hockey n TEA didn't let it hold them back, instead
turning their sites overseas, with men's and women's sides recently
(00:21):
competing in the Malaysian Hockey Lake. You would have heard
us crossing over to them over the weeks that they
were gone. But there's been another blow for hockey here
in the Northern Territory with the second Melbourne team poised
to enter Hockey one, with the Federal Labor Party promising
five hundred thousand dollars to bankroll them. Now joining me
(00:41):
in the studio is CEO of hockey here in the
Northern Territory, Jason Butcher.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Good morning to you, morning Katie.
Speaker 1 (00:49):
How are you not too bad? Thank you? Good to
see you. Now, what was your reaction when you found
out that this second Melbourne team was going to be
receiving significant government.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
Funding signific again, federal funding not unforeseen, to be honest,
I think what this announcement showed us is what we
probably knew all along that Hockey One doesn't seem to
have us in their short or long term plans. They've
got a different agenda, and you know also they're willing
to shift the goalposts to achieve that agenda.
Speaker 1 (01:21):
Why do you think that is, like, why do you
think that the Northern Territory is not part of their plan?
Speaker 2 (01:27):
Well, one of the things in the article in the
paper talked about financial viability and it was a little
bit misleading because the feedback we got was that the
league in its embryonic infant stages didn't believe it was
financially viable to play and to do productions of games
in Darwin. So that's their issue, not ours. And yet
(01:48):
it's sort of been sort of pushed a bit towards
our financial viability.
Speaker 1 (01:52):
You know.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
They also talked about the fact that we had too
much government support from the territory government. And now the
hypocrisy of that is is this is being set up
and bankrolled through federal funding. So that seems a bit crazy.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
Well yeah to me, I mean from an outside perspective
looking in, you sort of go, if it's about being
financially viable, why does this Melbourne team need five hundred
thousand dollars from the Federal Labor Party.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
In a suburb in the middle of Melbourne near all
of some of the best facilities you ever see.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
Yes, So, like you know, so you're kind of going
to yourself for I'm certainly saying to myself as an
outsider looking in, well, hang on a sec If they're
so viable, why do they need that and why are
we not looking at the NT.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
Yeah, And the other thing they talk to us about
was they were concerned about our local player based size
and quality, which is, you know, something where we're proving
and working on. But this team, from the correspondence you've seen,
is essentially going to be outfitted through international imports and
so not local development. So you wonder how that connects
(02:54):
to the story as well.
Speaker 1 (02:56):
So in terms of, you know, the process that Hockey
one has gone through, how are you sort of feeling
about that?
Speaker 2 (03:04):
First off, well, we were supposed to meet with them
at the end of last year and they canceled that
meeting because they said they were busy, and we haven't
heard from them since. So that's where that sits for us.
We're still working with Hockey Malaysia and our own strategic
sort of vision to build our Hockey One. I guess
submission and our capability which is in a good place,
but we don't know where they sit with us. I
(03:25):
guess this type of announcement shows some of that. I
think it also shows that this was never about our capability.
There are decisions that don't match the values the league
claims that stands for, stand for and also the spirit
of the sport it represents.
Speaker 1 (03:39):
I don't think like we're too from here. I know
that you've certainly demonstrated in my discussions with you that
no matter what, even if Hockey one is not prepared
to take a Northern Territory team like you're not prepared
to not give well, you you're not going to take
it lying down first off, but you're also, as the
CEO of hockey here in the Northern Territory, you are
(04:01):
not prepared to not make sure that territory players still
have opportunities.
Speaker 2 (04:07):
We saw after twenty eighteen when we lost our AHL position,
the decline of our sport. You know, without aspiras are
an opportunity. We've said this many times. Sports wither and die,
whether that's parents or kids, those two things fuel sport, volunteerism,
giving back the whole energy of a sport, so it's
a non negotiable. We have a great relationship with Malaysian
(04:28):
Hockey Confederation. Malaysian Hockey League was once in a lifetime.
It's going to be four times in a lifetime for
us because of our four year agreement, and it's a
good place for us to be to rebuild. You know,
we've got this seven year gap. We learned some lessons
about the league this year where we've got to quickly
get up to speed, so we're in a good place.
Like this is disappointing and it speaks to a broader
Australian story, I think in terms of how the territory
(04:51):
is perceived and regional remote communities are perceived. They don't
have voting power and all these types of things. But
we're in a good place. We've had great support from
the two territory government. And I'll let you answer the
next question. But we've got some initiatives coming up which
are going to redefine hockey and where we go.
Speaker 1 (05:07):
So I mean, from your perspective in terms of dealing
with hockey, one, is there more that we can do
like here, in the Northern Territory to try and you know,
to try and push for a better case. I mean,
do we need more infrastructure, what do we need do
you think to make us more attractive to that lag.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Yeah, certainly our facility is aging. But we're hosting the
Oceana Cup in September. We've had all the ticks and
approvals for that. That's going to be the greatest or
biggest event that hockey's ever hosted in our history World
Cup qualifier, so that's going to be amazing. And you know,
we're working closely with all our partners, including the territory
government about you know, pushing forward with where our facility sits.
(05:48):
But it is forty years old and it does have
some challenges, so that's definitely part of it long term,
I think, but we just need to keep getting support
from everybody and making sure that I guess people have
got to make a decision about how they feel about
the territory and what they're willing to stand for. This
talks all of our leaders across all areas as well,
(06:08):
because we can't continue to be just left behind because.
Speaker 1 (06:13):
Because they're in the Northern territories, they're can get away
with it, yeah, and it sucks, Like I just think
to myself, you see it very often when you go
away for sport in the NT, Like we already know,
we're fighting a bit of an uphill battle in a
lot of ways for different sports because you just don't
have the ability to compete every weekend like you might see,
you know, in other states and territories around Australia. But
(06:35):
when it comes to sheer talent, we have got so
much of it, like we've got it in bucket loads
in the NT, no matter what sport you talk about.
But then it is about making sure that there are
those pathways for our young people. And I think it
is so incredibly important when it comes to the liveability
of this place too. And and you know when it
(06:56):
comes to our young people and those that are a
little bit older wanting to stay living here, you know,
it's so important.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
I think we'll find historically that sport has been the
thing that's kept communities connected and healthy regional remote communities,
not just places like the Northern Territory, but across Australia.
It's been a big part of the culture, a healthy
culture of Australia for a long time and so we
have to keep investing in that and nurturing and cultivating that,
otherwise those places start to you know, fall away.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
Now in terms of you know, we are just a
couple of days away from the federal election. I mean,
what is your what's your message to those that have
put their hand up for this, you know, for the
seed of Solomon, for the seed of Lingiari when you
look at the Northern territory, what's your message to those
those people this morning? In terms of development of sport,
(07:46):
particularly hockey, Well.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
I think it's a broader message on you know, when
I speak to people in our community, what they're looking
for is an understanding that sport's fundamental to building healthier,
stronger communities. Actually in remote and regional Australia and right
across the territory. I think sports in different ways are
struggling with increased operational costs, other bits and pieces, and
(08:09):
we're trying to make that something that is engaging for
kids and to get communities involved for those purpose and
belonging in all those things. And it's challenging and I
think we need to be. If sport's healthy, I think
the territory is healthier. That's my message.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
Look, I love sports, there's no you know, everybody listens
to the show knows that. I think there does need
to be investment in sport and there does need to
be you know, like it just presents so many opportunities
in so many different ways. What is next for hockey
here in the Northern Territory. It sounds like you've got
a full dance card, mate, You've got the Oceania Championships,
You've got quite a bit coming up.
Speaker 2 (08:45):
Yeah, it's a big year. We're going to announce an
initiative in the next couple of weeks which you've been
working on with Hockey Australia, Hockey Malaysia, the Territory government,
and that initiative will redefine hockey in the territory. And
I can't go through the details, but let's just say
we've signed five agreements which includes three different countries. Awesome.
Speaker 1 (09:06):
You will have you back in the studio in a
couple of weeks, Oboods.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
And it's going to reframe the battle for us and
we think it'll be a blueprint print for all sports
to be healthier and more sustainable.
Speaker 1 (09:16):
Yeah, well mate, I really appreciate you joining me in
the studio this morning, Hockey and CEO Jason Butcher. Good
to speak with you. We'll talk to you again in
a couple of weeks. By the sounds of it, look
forward to it, mate,
Now we know that NT Hockey has been punching well
above their weight, producing some of the biggest names in
the sport, but despite that, it's been locked out of
the country's only national franchise, Hockey One. We know that
Hockey n TEA didn't let it hold them back, instead
turning their sites overseas, with men's and women's sides recently
(00:21):
competing in the Malaysian Hockey Lake. You would have heard
us crossing over to them over the weeks that they
were gone. But there's been another blow for hockey here
in the Northern Territory with the second Melbourne team poised
to enter Hockey one, with the Federal Labor Party promising
five hundred thousand dollars to bankroll them. Now joining me
(00:41):
in the studio is CEO of hockey here in the
Northern Territory, Jason Butcher.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Good morning to you, morning Katie.
Speaker 1 (00:49):
How are you not too bad? Thank you? Good to
see you. Now, what was your reaction when you found
out that this second Melbourne team was going to be
receiving significant government.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
Funding signific again, federal funding not unforeseen, to be honest,
I think what this announcement showed us is what we
probably knew all along that Hockey One doesn't seem to
have us in their short or long term plans. They've
got a different agenda, and you know also they're willing
to shift the goalposts to achieve that agenda.
Speaker 1 (01:21):
Why do you think that is, like, why do you
think that the Northern Territory is not part of their plan?
Speaker 2 (01:27):
Well, one of the things in the article in the
paper talked about financial viability and it was a little
bit misleading because the feedback we got was that the
league in its embryonic infant stages didn't believe it was
financially viable to play and to do productions of games
in Darwin. So that's their issue, not ours. And yet
(01:48):
it's sort of been sort of pushed a bit towards
our financial viability.
Speaker 1 (01:52):
You know.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
They also talked about the fact that we had too
much government support from the territory government. And now the
hypocrisy of that is is this is being set up
and bankrolled through federal funding. So that seems a bit crazy.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
Well yeah to me, I mean from an outside perspective
looking in, you sort of go, if it's about being
financially viable, why does this Melbourne team need five hundred
thousand dollars from the Federal Labor Party.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
In a suburb in the middle of Melbourne near all
of some of the best facilities you ever see.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
Yes, So, like you know, so you're kind of going
to yourself for I'm certainly saying to myself as an
outsider looking in, well, hang on a sec If they're
so viable, why do they need that and why are
we not looking at the NT.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
Yeah, And the other thing they talk to us about
was they were concerned about our local player based size
and quality, which is, you know, something where we're proving
and working on. But this team, from the correspondence you've seen,
is essentially going to be outfitted through international imports and
so not local development. So you wonder how that connects
(02:54):
to the story as well.
Speaker 1 (02:56):
So in terms of, you know, the process that Hockey
one has gone through, how are you sort of feeling
about that?
Speaker 2 (03:04):
First off, well, we were supposed to meet with them
at the end of last year and they canceled that
meeting because they said they were busy, and we haven't
heard from them since. So that's where that sits for us.
We're still working with Hockey Malaysia and our own strategic
sort of vision to build our Hockey One. I guess
submission and our capability which is in a good place,
but we don't know where they sit with us. I
(03:25):
guess this type of announcement shows some of that. I
think it also shows that this was never about our capability.
There are decisions that don't match the values the league
claims that stands for, stand for and also the spirit
of the sport it represents.
Speaker 1 (03:39):
I don't think like we're too from here. I know
that you've certainly demonstrated in my discussions with you that
no matter what, even if Hockey one is not prepared
to take a Northern Territory team like you're not prepared
to not give well, you you're not going to take
it lying down first off, but you're also, as the
CEO of hockey here in the Northern Territory, you are
(04:01):
not prepared to not make sure that territory players still
have opportunities.
Speaker 2 (04:07):
We saw after twenty eighteen when we lost our AHL position,
the decline of our sport. You know, without aspiras are
an opportunity. We've said this many times. Sports wither and die,
whether that's parents or kids, those two things fuel sport, volunteerism,
giving back the whole energy of a sport, so it's
a non negotiable. We have a great relationship with Malaysian
(04:28):
Hockey Confederation. Malaysian Hockey League was once in a lifetime.
It's going to be four times in a lifetime for
us because of our four year agreement, and it's a
good place for us to be to rebuild. You know,
we've got this seven year gap. We learned some lessons
about the league this year where we've got to quickly
get up to speed, so we're in a good place.
Like this is disappointing and it speaks to a broader
Australian story, I think in terms of how the territory
(04:51):
is perceived and regional remote communities are perceived. They don't
have voting power and all these types of things. But
we're in a good place. We've had great support from
the two territory government. And I'll let you answer the
next question. But we've got some initiatives coming up which
are going to redefine hockey and where we go.
Speaker 1 (05:07):
So I mean, from your perspective in terms of dealing
with hockey, one, is there more that we can do
like here, in the Northern Territory to try and you know,
to try and push for a better case. I mean,
do we need more infrastructure, what do we need do
you think to make us more attractive to that lag.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Yeah, certainly our facility is aging. But we're hosting the
Oceana Cup in September. We've had all the ticks and
approvals for that. That's going to be the greatest or
biggest event that hockey's ever hosted in our history World
Cup qualifier, so that's going to be amazing. And you know,
we're working closely with all our partners, including the territory
government about you know, pushing forward with where our facility sits.
(05:48):
But it is forty years old and it does have
some challenges, so that's definitely part of it long term,
I think, but we just need to keep getting support
from everybody and making sure that I guess people have
got to make a decision about how they feel about
the territory and what they're willing to stand for. This
talks all of our leaders across all areas as well,
(06:08):
because we can't continue to be just left behind because.
Speaker 1 (06:13):
Because they're in the Northern territories, they're can get away
with it, yeah, and it sucks, Like I just think
to myself, you see it very often when you go
away for sport in the NT, Like we already know,
we're fighting a bit of an uphill battle in a
lot of ways for different sports because you just don't
have the ability to compete every weekend like you might see,
you know, in other states and territories around Australia. But
(06:35):
when it comes to sheer talent, we have got so
much of it, like we've got it in bucket loads
in the NT, no matter what sport you talk about.
But then it is about making sure that there are
those pathways for our young people. And I think it
is so incredibly important when it comes to the liveability
of this place too. And and you know when it
(06:56):
comes to our young people and those that are a
little bit older wanting to stay living here, you know,
it's so important.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
I think we'll find historically that sport has been the
thing that's kept communities connected and healthy regional remote communities,
not just places like the Northern Territory, but across Australia.
It's been a big part of the culture, a healthy
culture of Australia for a long time and so we
have to keep investing in that and nurturing and cultivating that,
otherwise those places start to you know, fall away.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
Now in terms of you know, we are just a
couple of days away from the federal election. I mean,
what is your what's your message to those that have
put their hand up for this, you know, for the
seed of Solomon, for the seed of Lingiari when you
look at the Northern territory, what's your message to those
those people this morning? In terms of development of sport,
(07:46):
particularly hockey, Well.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
I think it's a broader message on you know, when
I speak to people in our community, what they're looking
for is an understanding that sport's fundamental to building healthier,
stronger communities. Actually in remote and regional Australia and right
across the territory. I think sports in different ways are
struggling with increased operational costs, other bits and pieces, and
(08:09):
we're trying to make that something that is engaging for
kids and to get communities involved for those purpose and
belonging in all those things. And it's challenging and I
think we need to be. If sport's healthy, I think
the territory is healthier. That's my message.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
Look, I love sports, there's no you know, everybody listens
to the show knows that. I think there does need
to be investment in sport and there does need to
be you know, like it just presents so many opportunities
in so many different ways. What is next for hockey
here in the Northern Territory. It sounds like you've got
a full dance card, mate, You've got the Oceania Championships,
You've got quite a bit coming up.
Speaker 2 (08:45):
Yeah, it's a big year. We're going to announce an
initiative in the next couple of weeks which you've been
working on with Hockey Australia, Hockey Malaysia, the Territory government,
and that initiative will redefine hockey in the territory. And
I can't go through the details, but let's just say
we've signed five agreements which includes three different countries. Awesome.
Speaker 1 (09:06):
You will have you back in the studio in a
couple of weeks, Oboods.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
And it's going to reframe the battle for us and
we think it'll be a blueprint print for all sports
to be healthier and more sustainable.
Speaker 1 (09:16):
Yeah, well mate, I really appreciate you joining me in
the studio this morning, Hockey and CEO Jason Butcher. Good
to speak with you. We'll talk to you again in
a couple of weeks. By the sounds of it, look
forward to it, mate,
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