No Changes to Legislation as Victorian Government Discusses and Votes on Cage Ban

Victorian Liberal Government ministers met to discuss and vote on the current cage ban in Victoria late last week, but to no avail.

According to a report by MMA Aus, it is believed that more than three-quarters of the representing ministers and the shadow cabinet voted in favor to lift the ban.

Shadow Minister for Sport and Recreation John Eren delivered a speech to the government stating how dangerous it is holding MMA events in a ring, and the lost revenue to the State from UFC events, which cannot be held unless the ban is overturned.

“We need to listen to the sector and try to benefit from it while at the same time making the sport a lot safer not only for the participants, but also for the people who go to the events or watch them at home,” Eren said. “It is very much about making sure we can benefit economically from the sector. That is why a sporting organisation like the Ultimate (Fighting) Championship is very serious. These events are watched by millions of people around the world.

“It is very much about contracts being signed with Etihad Stadium to get in 53,000 people. By the way, on that point, according to UFC’s information, when these events happen in Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia, 40 percent of the people who attend the events are from Victoria, so we are losing a lot of money in relation to these events.”

Tom Wright, UFC Director of Operations in Australia, New Zealand and Canada put out $45 million as a figure to the amount of potential revenue if they held a UFC event in Melbourne last time he was in the country.

The office of Hugh Delahunty, Minister of Sport & Recreation, told MMAKanvas.com that the “ban is currently still in place,” when questioned.

Before the law is changed, the legislation has to pass through the lower houses with the hope that the issue could be resolved sometime in the new year.

Fans that would like the cage ban overturned can show their support and are urged to like and share “Click for Vic” on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/clickforvic, or follow on Twitter at @ClickforVic and use the hashtag #ClickforVic in conversations.