For a city that fights so hard to get teams in national competitions, ACT shadow sports minister Mark Parton finds it bizarre the government would let one potentially slip away.
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Parton was dismayed over the Canberra Cavalry's future as the ABL team still waits on the ACT government to provide them with a letter they need to get overseas players into the country.
The Canberra Times contacted the government on Tuesday before breaking the story that their inaction over the past month was costing the Cavalry top-quality players, but still hadn't had a response by the close of business Wednesday.
The Cavalry haven't heard anything either.
There were concerns within the Cavalry camp a failure to get the letter - which the other five ABL teams have all received from their respective state governments - could cost them a place in this summer's competition.
Parton wrote to Sports Minister Yvette Berry and Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith on Wednesday calling for them to take urgent action.
He said the government going into caretaker mode for the recent election could cause a small delay, but he couldn't fathom why they wouldn't act immediately once the story broke.
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The Cavalry have lost one overseas player already and fear they could lose another 10 imports - including three former Major League players - if they don't receive the letter urgently.
It's needed to get approval from the Federal Department of Home Affairs for any foreign players to enter the country.
Then they need to complete two weeks' quarantine and a week's training - all before the ABL season hits off on December 18.
"It's just bizarre that we in this town spend so much time, money and effort trying to get national bodies to consider to put our teams in their competitions and here we have one and we're just going to let it slip away from bureaucratic dawdling," Parton said.
"The Queensland election was on at the same time and they were able to pull it together and we weren't.
"What dismays me more is once this story was out in the public realm that they still didn't contact [the Cavalry]."
David Polkinghorne
Covering the Raiders, Cavalry, cycling and racing, plus everything else that involves sport in the ACT, for The Canberra Times. Basically I love sport and watching it is a full-time job. Email: david.polkinghorne@canberratimes.com.au
Covering the Raiders, Cavalry, cycling and racing, plus everything else that involves sport in the ACT, for The Canberra Times. Basically I love sport and watching it is a full-time job. Email: david.polkinghorne@canberratimes.com.au
