Folau case could drag on for years
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: It’s the most divisive issue in Australian sport, but no one should expect Israel Folau’s showdown with Rugby Australia to be won or lost any time soon.
Folau will fight to save his career when he challenges Rugby Australia’s intention to tear up his four-year, $4 million contract at a landmark code of conduct hearing in Sydney on Saturday.
Sunday has also been reserved should the three-person panel of chair John West, RA representative Kate Eastman and the Rugby Union Players’ Association-elected John Boultbee require further deliberations.
Either way, Rugby Australia has already declared the panel is not expected to deliver a decision on the weekend.
A final verdict could in fact take months or even years to reach, according to an employment law expert at the University of Sydney Business School.
Giuseppe Carabetta has described the complex case as a “perfect storm of conflicting religious, corporate sponsorship and moral issues”.
“[It] may eventually involve not only Rugby Australia’s Code of Conduct but also aspects of contract law, Anti-Discrimination laws and employee rights under the Fair Work Act,” said Carabetta.
“The case may well have a very long way to run.”
READ: AUSTRALIAN RUGBY ON RELIGIOUS TIME BOMB
Folau, 30, was issued with a “high-level” breach notice last month for taking to Instagram to proclaim “hell awaits drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists and idolators” unless they repent and turn to Jesus.
The three-times John Eales Medallist had been warned last year following a similar post claiming gays were destined for hell, before signing a rich contract extension in October.
Folau and his barrister Adam Casselden will argue that Rugby Australia did not include a specific social media clause in his new contract and that his posts were merely passages from the Bible and not directly his words.
Rugby Australia, to be represented by Justin Gleeson, is expected to argue that, regardless of no such apparent clause, Folau seriously breached the governing body’s broader code of conduct policy and its inclusion policy.
Point 1.3 of the players’ code of conduct policy says: “Treat everyone equally, fairly and with dignity regardless of gender or gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity, cultural or religious background, age or disability. Any form of bullying, harassment or discrimination has no place in Rugby”.
Another section states: “Do not use Social Media as a means to breach any of the expectations and requirements of you as a player”.
Folau’s defence is also expected to argue that rugby’s “inclusion for all” policy should include him too – and his strong religious beliefs.
If the tribunal determines that Folau has in fact breached his contract, the panel must then decide if the breach was severe enough to terminate his career.
The losing party will have until 72 hours after any decision is handed down to appeal.
And even after that, the matter could well drag on in the courts.
“There may be some kind of settlement between the parties,” Carabetta told AAP.
“But if it does end up in the ordinary courts such as the federal court, potentially, those matters can take months or even a couple of years.”
AAP
