Top Australian sporting bodies endorse Indigenous referendum as support dips
Sydney, AustraliaReuters Two of Australia’s top football codes on Thursday backed a proposal to constitutionally recognise the country’s Indigenous population in a referendum, as latest opinion polls show public support for the government-backed plan dipping. A depiction of the Australian Aboriginal Flag is seen on a window sill at the home of indigenous Muruwari elder […]
Folau settlement was a “commercial” decision – Rugby Australia boss
Sydney, AustraliaReuters Rugby Australia boss Raelene Castle has defended the governing body’s settlement with Israel Folau as a “commercial decision” and necessary to avoid the cost and distraction of testing its inclusion policy in court. RA and Folau announced on Wednesday they had settled their unfair dismissal case, ending a long and bitter dispute after […]
Israel Folau settles unfair dismissal case with Rugby Australia
Melbourne, AustraliaReuters Former Wallabies fullback Israel Folau has settled his unfair dismissal case with Rugby Australia and Super Rugby team the New South Wales Waratahs, bringing an end to a prolonged and bitter dispute triggered by an explosive social media post. Folau, a fundamentalist Christian, launched legal action after his four-year contract was torn up […]
Former Wallaby Folau hikes unfair dismissal claim to $A14 million
Melbourne, AustraliaReuters Former Wallabies fullback Israel Folau has raised his compensation claim against Rugby Australia (RA) and the New South Wales Waratahs to $A14 million in an updated court filing. Folau, a fundamentalist Christian, was previously seeking $A10 million in damages from RA and the Waratahs, who terminated his four-year contract in May after he […]
Australia unveils religious freedom bill, after rugby star sacked for ‘hell awaits homosexuals’ post
Sydney, AustraliaReuters Australia on Thursday proposed legislation to protect people who express their religious faith outside of the workplace, a few months after Rugby Union international Israel Folau was sacked for posting on social media that hell awaited “drunks, homosexuals, adulterers”. Attorney-General Christian Porter said the proposal would allow Australians to express their religious beliefs […]
In Australia, Israel Folau case set for trial in early 2020
Melbourne, AustraliaReuters Israel Folau’s unfair dismissal case against Rugby Australia and the New South Wales Waratahs will head to trial in February, 2020, if no settlement is reached beforehand. Fundamentalist Christian Folau is fighting the termination of his four-year contract in May after he posted a meme on social media that said hell awaited “drunks, […]
Israel Folau launches court action over Rugby Australia dismissal
Sydney, AustraliaReuters Israel Folau has formally launched Federal court proceedings against Rugby Australia and the New South Wales Waratahs over his dismissal for a code of conduct breach, the former Wallabies fullback said on Thursday. Folau’s four-year contract was torn up in May after he posted a meme on social media that said hell awaited […]
Israel Folau says to head to court after conciliation hearing fails
Sydney, Australia Reuters Sacked Australia fullback Israel Folau is set to take his legal fight against Rugby Australia to court after emerging “very disappointed” from a failed conciliation hearing at the Fair Work Commission in Sydney on Friday. Folau and his legal team met with RA in the first formal step of his unfair dismissal […]
ESSAY: WHY CHRISTIANS DISAGREE OVER THE ISRAEL FOLAU SAGA
In an article first published on The Conversation, GEOFF THOMPSON, of Australia’s University of Divinity, looks at why there have been different responses among Australian Christians to the ongoing saga surrounding sacked rugby player Israel Folau…
Australian Christian Lobby launches new fundraising effort for sacked rugby player Israel Folau
The Australian Christian Lobby has kicked off a new effort aimed at raising funds to support sacked Australian rugby fullback Israel Folau in his dispute with Rugby Australia with $A100,000 donation. The move comes after fundraising platform GoFundMe shut down a page which had already raised more than $A750,000 for Folau, saying that the 30-year-old’s […]