FDSC - Fair Dinkum Sports Club.
When a sitting parliamentarian gets removed from a sports club for calling out lobbyist influence, something's on the nose. That's not cricket.
The Fair Dinkum Sports Club is starting with a clean sheet. The rules are made by the people, for the participants who want to play a little pickleball or take on a plank challenge with the same sort of straight bat that moderates their practices inside the corridors of political power.
If you believe that sport should be about honest competition, and recognise its potential to foster relationships across party lines, then let's make this a cooperative project in coordinating and governing a sports league for parliament.
- Members
- 0+
- Supporters
- 1+
- Venue
- TBC
- Location
- A sportsfield near the office
Timeline to kick-off
We, the people, have heard the call. Before our representatives can pick up their hockey sticks, we need to design the rules, organise the orange slices and procure some wickets. Let's get to work.
Design the Rules
Create fair and transparent club guidelines
Organise the Game
Get the equipment, referees and teams
Admit the founding members
Recruit fair-go politicians to be FDSC's founding members
The rules of the
Fair Dinkum Sports Club
This is a project in representative governance as much as it is one in coordinating a sports league. The rules are made and the work is done by the people, for the people.
Eligibility criteria
To play in this league, you must be an elected representative in a political office, a staffer or a journalist who covers politics. Lobbyists and influencers will need to find another game to play. Also, Federal MPs must have signed up to the Parliamentary Pass Register.
Sponsorship capped at $5/year
Sure, oranges come at a cost. We'll take sponsorship from sports-respecting Aussies who want to see a fair go, but we'll cap it at $5/year to keep things on the level. No naming rights, no exclusive deals, just a few extra sets of wickets and some decent quality navals. Sponsors are named below - be proud to support your representative being part of this league. The cashflow is public, and any excess above needs will be donated to the Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility and the ASF's Children's Sport Participation Fund.
No lurkers
Community volunteers might be called upon to provide some referees, doll out the band aids and tally the scores, but they won't be allowed bring any friends, live-stream the leagues or run a prediction market on the back of members doing their best to keep the ball in play. This league is for those whose daily grind is democracy. Get in touch if you want to get involved as a supporter, governing-body member (we're still deciding what this should be) or have another idea for how you might contribute.
Small biz supporters
Small businesses wanting to provide arm bands, knee pads or field markers who can swear on their favourite child that they do not have a government relations adviser on the payroll, can pitch to provide the merch we use in this project. We'll keep suppliers on rotation so nothing gets too cosy.
Lobbyist leagues and Journo jousts
To encourage the adoption of the Parliamentary Pass Register, we'll organise challenge days. Parliamentarians -vs- the Lobbyists (who have been logged in the register) and the Journalists that cover them. Prediction markets backed only by packets of popcorn (or similar).
The rules are under regular review
A committee of community representatives will keep the schedule and manage the memberships. They will also develop these rules as our initiative develops this league.
Eligibility criteria
To play in this league, you must be an elected representative in a political office, a staffer or a journalist who covers politics. Lobbyists and influencers will need to find another game to play. Also, Federal MPs must have signed up to the Parliamentary Pass Register.
Sponsorship capped at $5/year
Sure, oranges come at a cost. We'll take sponsorship from sports-respecting Aussies who want to see a fair go, but we'll cap it at $5/year to keep things on the level. No naming rights, no exclusive deals, just a few extra sets of wickets and some decent quality navals. Sponsors are named below - be proud to support your representative being part of this league. The cashflow is public, and any excess above needs will be donated to the Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility and the ASF's Children's Sport Participation Fund.
No lurkers
Community volunteers might be called upon to provide some referees, doll out the band aids and tally the scores, but they won't be allowed bring any friends, live-stream the leagues or run a prediction market on the back of members doing their best to keep the ball in play. This league is for those whose daily grind is democracy. Get in touch if you want to get involved as a supporter, governing-body member (we're still deciding what this should be) or have another idea for how you might contribute.
Small biz supporters
Small businesses wanting to provide arm bands, knee pads or field markers who can swear on their favourite child that they do not have a government relations adviser on the payroll, can pitch to provide the merch we use in this project. We'll keep suppliers on rotation so nothing gets too cosy.
Lobbyist leagues and Journo jousts
To encourage the adoption of the Parliamentary Pass Register, we'll organise challenge days. Parliamentarians -vs- the Lobbyists (who have been logged in the register) and the Journalists that cover them. Prediction markets backed only by packets of popcorn (or similar).
The rules are under regular review
A committee of community representatives will keep the schedule and manage the memberships. They will also develop these rules as our initiative develops this league.