The AFL's Tony Woods - keen for footy to continue on the tele.

The AFL’s International Development Manager, Tony Woods has replied to the Vietnam Swans email of 23 June regarding the threat to the continued coverage of AFL matches on Australia Network. Below is Tony’s email dated 24 June.

Thank you for your email.

We are acutely aware of the proposal that is being driven out of DFAT and your sentiments echo those of many ex pat communities outside of Australia.

I was recently in Bali to attend the Bali Masters and many of the diaspora you speak of spent much of the weekend lobbying me along similar lines.

Obviously we see carriage of our games on Australia Network critical to the growth of the game in the region, but importantly also recognise the role a broadcast plays in creating opportunities for Australians on the ground to conduct consistent social, business and networking initiatives within and beyond the ex-pat community as evidenced by the Swans activity in the past 12 months.

Last year’s exhibition game in China highlighted the value of our game as a trade platform and the role it can play in connecting and promoting Australia and a big part of our culture to an International Community across a number of levels.

We are therefore in the process of lobbying the Australian Government through a variety of channels and are hopeful we can apply enough pressure to at least have DFAT reconsider its position.

In the interim, Australia Network has given us assurances they will deliver on their commitments for 2011.

I’ll keep you informed of our progress.

Footnotes:

• A copy of this email, together with the Vietnam Swans email was forwarded to Auscham in Vietnam. Auscham in turn forwarded them to Australia Business Asia which then forwarded them on to the 16 Australian Business Chambers and Councils across Asia.
• The Age newspaper reports on Tuesday 28 June 2011, Government has made a mess of TV tender.
• The Australian newspaper on Friday 24 June 2011, in an article titled Australia Network deal hits major delay, reports that a “decision on who wins the contentious contract for the running of the Australia Network is likely to be delayed six months and the decision taken by Communications Minister Stephen Conroy’s department instead of Kevin Rudd’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
• Trouble at the Cave is written by former Asian correspondent for Time Magazine and Fortune Magazine, Eric Ellis. He writes about how important it is to continue the coverage of AFL football.