AAP General News (Australia)
12-10-2001
NSW: Female kickboxer loses sex discrimination case
A female kickboxer has lost her court case against a ruling forbidding her to compete
professionally in New South Wales, where kickboxing is a men-only sport.
Professional kickboxer HOLLY FERNELEY had lodged a Federal Court application against
the state's Boxing Control Authority and the state government.
The authority had refused to register her for competition because she's a woman.
Under current state legislation, only men over 18 can apply to register as boxers or kickboxers.
But Justice MURRAY WILCOX says the boxing control authority is exempt from the Commonwealth
Sex Discrimination Act because it's a state institution.
However JUSTICE WILCOX says he agrees with sex discrimination commissioner PRU GOWARD
that exemptions to the Act relating to strength and physique shouldn't apply to single-sex
sports such as female kickboxing.
Ms FERNELEY -- who holds world, Australian and Commonwealth titles for kickboxing --
has vowed to fight on for the right to compete in her home state.
New South Wales is the only state which doesn't allow women kickboxers to compete professionally.
AAP RTV/ns/arb/tb/jtb
KEYWORD: BOXING FERNELEY (SYDNEY)
2001 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.
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