❓ Mr Rundle questions the Premier on bare-knuckle fighting in WA, referencing concerns from the AMA. The Premier clarifies the government's non-sponsorship and reliance on the Combat Sports Commission for regulation and safety.
AnsweredQoN 185Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Bare-knuckle fighting
185. Mr Peter Rundle to the Premier:
I refer to the
prospect of bare-knuckle fighting coming to Perth and the Australian Medical Association
(WA) referring to this activity as the human equivalent of dog fighting. Will
the Premier show leadership and step up to prevent this violent event from
being staged in Western Australia, or is his government simply going to sit on
the sidelines and handball responsibility to the Combat Sports Commission?
185. Mr Peter Rundle to the Premier:
I refer to the
prospect of bare-knuckle fighting coming to Perth and the Australian Medical Association
(WA) referring to this activity as the human equivalent of dog fighting. Will
the Premier show leadership and step up to prevent this violent event from
being staged in Western Australia, or is his government simply going to sit on
the sidelines and handball responsibility to the Combat Sports Commission?
AnswerView source ↗
Mr Speaker, I can
understand that combat sports like bare-knuckle boxing are not everyone's cup
of tea—they are not my cup of tea either. I want to make it clear that
this is not an event that the WA Government is sponsoring financially. We have
seen the rise in popularity of Ultimate Fighting Championship and similar
sports over the past decade, so the Minister for Sport and Recreation has
sought advice from the Combat Sports Commission, which regulates combat sports
and ensures stringent rules and regulations are in place for these types of
events. The commission has advised that bare-knuckle boxing is an emerging
discipline alongside Muay Thai, kickboxing and mixed martial arts and has
started to grow in Australia since its following in the United States and the United
Kingdom. Although we understand that there is risk to be balanced with any
sports, there is a greater risk to people who participate in sport that is not
controlled, permitted and regulated. With the commission regulating the sport,
and events associated with it, it means that there are strict rules to protect
participants, such as having multiple ringside medical practitioners and a
threshold to the minimum experience of participants.
I can appreciate
that, to the layperson, this sounds like people just getting in a ring and
having a go. It is not. It is not my cup of tea but the Combat Sports
Commission has provided preliminary advice that anything of this nature
requires at least two medical practitioners and requires the participants to be
experienced and knowledgeable of the particular discipline. We will continue to
be advised by the Combat Sports Commission in relation to maintaining safety
for any sport.
understand that combat sports like bare-knuckle boxing are not everyone's cup
of tea—they are not my cup of tea either. I want to make it clear that
this is not an event that the WA Government is sponsoring financially. We have
seen the rise in popularity of Ultimate Fighting Championship and similar
sports over the past decade, so the Minister for Sport and Recreation has
sought advice from the Combat Sports Commission, which regulates combat sports
and ensures stringent rules and regulations are in place for these types of
events. The commission has advised that bare-knuckle boxing is an emerging
discipline alongside Muay Thai, kickboxing and mixed martial arts and has
started to grow in Australia since its following in the United States and the United
Kingdom. Although we understand that there is risk to be balanced with any
sports, there is a greater risk to people who participate in sport that is not
controlled, permitted and regulated. With the commission regulating the sport,
and events associated with it, it means that there are strict rules to protect
participants, such as having multiple ringside medical practitioners and a
threshold to the minimum experience of participants.
I can appreciate
that, to the layperson, this sounds like people just getting in a ring and
having a go. It is not. It is not my cup of tea but the Combat Sports
Commission has provided preliminary advice that anything of this nature
requires at least two medical practitioners and requires the participants to be
experienced and knowledgeable of the particular discipline. We will continue to
be advised by the Combat Sports Commission in relation to maintaining safety
for any sport.
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