Why do you want to change the constitution?

• Our existing constitution is outdated and doesn’t reflect current practices.
• While the existing constitution was updated in 2022, this was only to change the membership period as per a motion from the previous AGM – not a full review of the constitution.
• The new constitution has been based on the State Government’s club constitution template, which is also utilised by the state body.

Why has the affiliation wording been removed?

• The template does not indicate that the affiliation wording must be in a club constitution.
• We wanted a more focused object, rather than wording on specific aspects of the association.
• Specific wording within a constitution must pass a special resolution each time it is updated, making it more generic and reducing this administrative burden in the future.

The STBA want to approve/decline members based on preference, why?

• This is not new, as this process is outlined under clause/rule 5, sections 1 and 2 of the existing STBA Constitution.
• The current process of membership is not in line with the constitution.
• Any committee or organisation has the right to determine membership, and only in extreme or unusual circumstances would membership not be accepted. It is not a clause/rule to pick and choose based on personal preference.

Why has the quorum been reduced, is it to give the board a majority?

• The current quorum for a General Meeting is 20, and the committee has 12 spots – meaning the existing approach already allows the committee to have a majority.
• In the last 10 years, there have been several occasions where quorums have not been met and often dictate when a meeting will be held. Reducing the number of minimum members required will allow meetings to run and be less dependent on the day and/or time.
• Minimums are not maximums, and the STBA would always recommend more people attend than less – but it is good to plan for worst-case scenarios.

We’re told the constitution change will let the current and future committees disaffiliate at their discretion, is that true?

• This is incorrect, approval of Resolution 1 does not give the committee the authority to disaffiliate.
• Affiliation arrangements were agreed to when the state body updated its constitution in April 2020, including the process of disaffiliation.
• To disaffiliate, we must have a specific resolution on affiliation as per the state body constitution, Clause 6.2.
• Resolution 2 must be approved to give the committee power to disaffiliate.

Why does the committee want to be able to disaffiliate?

• We don’t want to, and our first option would be to negotiate lower fees and more direct benefits to the STBA, coaches, and members.
• There is currently very little negotiating power, as members need to approve changes to the affiliation arrangements as per Resolution 2. This was outlined during mediation attempts in 2023.
• The STBA budget must be addressed, as 75% of the existing savings have been allocated to current and future projects – leaving approximately $40,000-$50,000 as an emergency fund.
• Voting in favour of Resolution 2 will allow us to provide our affiliation requests again, to reduce our fees to reasonable levels, considering the other associations and operations of the state body.
• It would be their decision if the state body would prefer us to disaffiliate than provide the discounts.

Is the fee that much? Can’t we afford it?

• The committee’s concern is less about the fee and affordability, but about fairness.
• The initial fee for 2023 was $25,098 then reduced to $22,154 after national body intervention, and will be increased again in 2024.
• The affiliation fee payable by the state body to the national body is less than our total fee.
• We believe a fee of $14,704 is fair and reasonable, and covers more than a third of the state body’s operating costs.
• The STBA could pay a fee of any amount, which we charge members through fees and court hire rates. We want members to be aware, and to choose if they would prefer higher or lower fees.

What will happen if we don’t approve Resolution 2 regarding affiliation?

• The current arrangements will continue, and STBA will pay all fees as set out at the discretion of the state body.
• The STBA budget will need to incorporate future increases in fees, as well as the impacts of the current economy, in pricing models across the centre including court hire rates, entry fees to events, and membership costs.

What will happen if we approve Resolution 2 regarding affiliation?

• We will once again provide the formal offer to the state body for consideration.
• If the state body believes disaffiliating the association makes more sense, effectively winding up their operations, it would be their decision.

What happens to the STBA if they don’t agree and we disaffiliate?

• STBA would continue to operate the centre, providing a wide range of offers including court hire, social sessions, pennants, rosters, and local tournaments.
• We would pay for another insurance policy to cover members in the hall.
• We would continue to engage third-party business specialists to ensure appropriate policies and procedures are in place and reviewed.
• We would review the pricing models and budget with the changes in costs.

What happens to members if we disaffiliate?

• Members would no longer automatically become a members through the state and national community.
• Members of the STBA will continue to enjoy the hall and courts, and all events the STBA have to offer.
• Members who wish to participate in state and national events would need to affiliate through other means, including direct affiliation or through the creation of another club in the South.

We were told there are no other options to affiliate, is that true?

• There are more options and pathways to affiliate than just through the STBA.
• The state body constitution allows the board to register individual members directly in certain situations (clause 5.7C). 
• The STBA received written confirmation from the state body in May 2022 acknowledging they can affiliate Individual Members after questioning from the current Participation Manager/Coach.

We were told they can’t and won’t create another association, why?

• It would be disappointing if they were unwilling to negotiate instead of preferring to have the STBA disaffiliate.
• It is concerning to hear they won’t support badminton participants in the South as they did in the North in 2020.
• We are unsure why they have taken this stance, given all that is required is to adopt the model rules provided by CBOS and pay a small application fee of $187 for incorporation.

What will happen to badminton in the state if we disaffiliate?

• Given the stance of the state body, we do not believe they could operate without participants from the South.
• Choosing not to negotiate by significantly reducing fees, would be at the discretion of their board.
• By choosing not to lower fees by approximately $8,000 as outlined, they would jeopardise over $100,000 of funding from state and federal government.
• If the state body could no longer meet its obligations due to its decision, the STBA would work with the other regions and the national body to continue operations.

The state body does a lot of work in all regions, isn’t that enough?

• The STBA appreciates the work conducted by the state body.
• The state body uses money received through state and federal funding sources, based on member numbers from regional associations, including activities they provide. In the 23/24 financial year, BT budgeted approximately $116,471 for programs.
• The STBA believes that in paying fees, the association and its members should be able to access the funding received by BT to grow the sport in our area. 
• Access to some of those funds would assist STBA coaches and members in growing the sport in the hall, while also helping to deliver on performance indicators contained in the grant arrangements.
• The STBA wants the ability to negotiate lower fees and access these benefits so that we can continue to grow and engage the community.

The state body said you must be affiliated to receive grants, is that true?

• It is a shame to see this being agreed to by the board of Badminton Tasmania and published, however, this is false.
• All grants the STBA have received in the past do not require affiliation and have received confirmation from Active Tasmania.
• The only change to funding arrangements if disaffiliation was to occur, is that we would no longer be eligible for the Ticket to Play system. While we submitted no tickets in the 2023-2024 Financial Year, the STBA could self-fund any tickets if required on a case-by-case basis.