NSW Mandatory Registration Refusals for Combat Sports Combatants

Combat Sports Amendment Bill 2024

7 May 2024: Passed by Parliament and signed off by the governor.

This bill kicks in: TBA

Legislative Assembly

Legislative Council

Assent

Share this bill

Email Facebook X Bluesky

Topics

athlete safety combat sports concussion management head injuries medical examinations sports regulation

Introduced by: The Hon Stephen Kamper MP (ALP); The Hon Daniel Mookhey MLC (ALP)

Links to official parliament websites

Official page: progress through parliament

Official page: bill text and explanatory notes

Effects of this bill

If this bill passes, it means that:

The Combat Sports Authority must refuse to register a combatant if their registration in another class is suspended; it must also refuse if registration is against the public interest.
Corporations can now act as industry participants or promoters.
Industry participants and promoters must follow rules on managing concussion and head injuries; they must also disclose conflicts of interest.
Corporate managers and promoters must disclose information about their close associates.
Combatants must undergo medical exams before and after contests.
The Combat Sports Authority must record medical suspensions in the register of combatants.
The Combat Sports Authority can demand information about amateur bodies and the medical practitioners who attend them.

The Debate

What different members said when this bill was debated:

Damien Tudehope LIB

“I lead for the Opposition in debate on the Combat Sports Amendment Bill 2024. The Opposition supports the bill, which represents a step forward in enhancing safety measures for combatants in combat sports. The genesis of the bill traces back to a tragic incident in 2015 involving the untimely passing of 28-year-old Davey Browne.”

Official source →

Amanda Cohn GRN

“The Greens do not oppose the Combat Sports Amendment Bill 2024. Getting repeatedly punched in the head by a professional is inherently unsafe. However, as a GP, my position on combat sports, like other risky activities that some people enjoy, is "If you’re going to do it, it should be done as safely as possible.”

Official source →

Bob Nanva ALP

“New South Wales residents love their sport across many competitions and codes. Despite other States claiming that they are the sporting capitals of Australia, it is clear that New South Wales is. However, it is absolutely critical that the Government aims to keep New South Wales alluring to competitors of all stripes in a manner that is safe for spectators and participants.”

Official source →

Mark Buttigieg ALP

“Damien Tudehope, Dr Amanda Cohn and the Hon. Bob Nanva. I also thank the Opposition and the crossbench for their support. The Combat Sports Amendment Bill 2024 is an essential step in our reform agenda to improve the regulation of combat sports in New South Wales.”

Official source →

News articles and press releases

Combat Sports Amendment Bill 2024

Mr STEPHEN KAMPER, Minister for Small Business — 2024-02-07

The main purpose of the bill is to minimise the risk to combatants of concussion and other serious head injuries, and to modernise the regulation of combat sports. The bill includes important safety reforms, including mandatory concussion and other serious head injury training for all registered persons, the introduction of an accreditation class for attending medical practitioners, and provisions to suspend a contest to conduct an assessment of a combatant where a head injury is suspected. The bill also includes the creation of a public register of registered persons to make the matchmaking process for contests simpler.