Crossed that White Line

Been involved with football/ maintained support since 1961 and held positions on Non For Profit entities in various roles of management across different sports and never have I witnessed what I came across on the Football Queensland Facebook site of late in regard to political content.

As a former director I was educated in Corporate Governance, Compliance, and ethical standards when in the role and the boundaries of interaction with any businesses, and outside entities including politicians, so I went into shock when I saw I regard as Football Queensland openly promoting the LNP and supplying Props and personnel for Photo Opportunities and advertising for “prospective” donations from sitting and wanna be”s candidates who will sell you a car with a free bumper bar….See below

Let me be clear here, its your role as a director to lobby all politicians for grants and support for your organisation but knowing the separation from the political process and your role as a NFP representative was part of your Corporate Governance Obligations and ethical standards of the people who you represent.

Football Queensland has failed that standard and tied its support to the political wagon openly and blatantly by the below and once you cross that line you put your association in political debate like it or not. …..

This I regard as poor strategic control ,possible a small club,might make in a community by inexperienced non street wise volunteers, not Directors of a national entity ..
No-one needs to tell us how important it is to have funds flowing into the coffers to support out causes but if its with conditions outside the process of submissions for grants or from the sitting members electoral allowances, we are on a very slippery slope.

Once you have announced your allegiance and advertised it you and in the bull ring of the politics like it or not the reputation sticks and this wedding FQ has entered reeks of the “Sports Rorts” saga and one would have though the alarm bells might be ringing, but apparently not.
Let’s not forget the clubs they represent, are they comfortable with this arrangement and what if they are not in the right electorate will they be defunded or squeezed?

Is this the tip of the iceberg of changing the whole grants process leaving it to the Member to hand out the goodies and change the Grant system and they are using Football Queensland as a wedge??
The questions would never need to be answered if separation was maintained, and me personally do not want to see NFP organisations ending up like the American system where funds can be withdrawn for political reasons from a volunteer or people you serve.

This is a shocking decision to go down this road and the Board must make clarify its position to affiliates on how it made this decision and who is accountable.

In the interest of transparency I am a ALP member which I declared on every single appointment and I declared and stood down when any conflict by association decisions were on the floor including pecuniary interests as per Corporate Governance Provisions.

That declaration should be forthcoming from each Director of Football Queensland and not just assumed.

The Grump.
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