2/09/01
Sport and Recreation Minister Alan Carpenter said today that draft legislation to be introduced to Parliament this month would improve safety for contestants in professional combat sports in Western Australia.
Mr Carpenter said the Boxing Control Amendment Bill 2001 would expand current legislation to include professional combat sports such as kick boxing, Muay Thai kickboxing and karate.
"Professional combat sports are becoming popular in Western Australia, and current legislation does not take some of these sports into account," he said.
The Boxing Control Act will be amended so that:
- the Boxing Control Act (1987) is replaced by the Professional Combat Sports Act (2001);
- the WA Boxing Commission will be called the WA Professional Combat Sports Commission (WAPSCS) and its membership will increase by two members who have experience in martial arts as contestants or officials;
- all forms of professional fighting will come under the jurisdiction of the WAPSCS and be termed professional combat sports;
- any person wishing to participate as a contestant or an official in any professional combat sport will have to be registered with the WAPSCS; and
- a promoter of a professional combat sport contest will be required to apply to the WAPSCS for a contest permit.
The amendments will ensure that:
- professional combat sportspeople will have to conform to set minimum health and safety standards;
- promoters operate with sound business practices for the protection of contestants, officials, the promoter and venue operators; and
- the combat sport industry is professionally run.
Mr Carpenter said that health and safety were main concerns.
"It is important that anyone with a blood-borne disease is not allowed to compete because of the risk that the infection could spread," he said.
"The legislation requires that a doctor is present at every contest.
"All contestants will be required to undergo comprehensive medical examinations and blood tests before they would be considered for registration with the commission."
The Minister said contestants would be further protected through formal contracts with promoters, which would be lodged with the commission.
Similar legislation was in place in New South Wales, the ACT and Victoria. South Australia has yet to proclaim its own legislation.
"While some in the community would like to see sports like these banned, the effect would be to drive them underground where there would be no financial, health or safety protection for contestants," Mr Carpenter said.
"Promoters would have no minimum legal requirements to meet.
"The bottom line is that, under the new legislation, everyone involved in combat sport will have the confidence to compete and officiate with the knowledge that all involved will be adhering to minimum health and safety standards."
Media contact: John Altham 9213 6806
