Australian athletes competing in federally funded high-performance sports programs are currently without adequate independent protections when they experience bullying, victimisation, discrimination, or misconduct within their sport.

Athletes who raise concerns through internal processes face significant risks, including loss of selection, loss of scholarship, and loss of access to high-performance support services while their complaints remain unresolved. Women athletes and First Nations athletes are disproportionately affected.

The current system relies on sports organisations to investigate complaints made against themselves and those within their own structures. This creates a conflict of interest that can result in unfair outcomes, prolonged processes, and further harm to athletes who have already been mistreated.

Australian athletes represent this country at the highest levels of international competition, often at significant personal and financial cost. The Federal Government funds high-performance sport in Australia through the Australian Sports Commission. That funding should come with binding, independently enforceable athlete welfare standards.

Your petitioners ask that the Senate:

Conduct a formal inquiry into athlete welfare standards in federally funded sports organisations in Australia, with particular attention to the independence and adequacy of complaints and investigation processes, the protection of athletes from retaliation when raising concerns about misconduct or discrimination, and the continuation of high-performance support services for athletes during active complaints or appeals processes.