Unification Discussions Update

The Bowls NSW Board of Directors advises its members that it was recently invited to hold discussions
regarding a possible unification with Women’s Bowls NSW.
An initial meeting to discuss unification was to be held on 16th January 2020, however this was
postponed by Women’s Bowls NSW due to the issue of Dual Registrations for members and registered
players remaining unresolved.

Women’s Bowls NSW advised Bowls NSW that commencement of unification talks would be subject to
a number of non-negotiable conditions being agreed to by Bowls NSW.
The Bowls NSW Board were agreeable to most conditions set out by the Women’s Bowls NSW Board,
including the meeting taking place at Women’s Bowls NSW’s offices or a mutually agreed venue, the
matter of Dual Registration being resolved prior to unification discussions commencing, appointing an
independent chair/facilitator, recording each meeting and that strict confidentiality in relation to the
content of the meeting(s) would be observed by both parties.

The Bowls NSW Board rejected just one of the conditions, concerning the proposed exclusion of the
Bowls NSW CEO from all discussion on Dual Registration and unification. As the employed executive
and Company Secretary of the Association, the Bowls NSW Board believed it was unreasonable that
the CEO would not be present and involved in these discussions.

Subsequently, Women’s Bowls NSW has advised Bowls NSW of its decision to abandon the scheduled
meeting on 14th February 2020 due to this condition being rejected by Bowls NSW.

As such, Bowls NSW advises members that while it remains open to entering unification discussions
with Women’s Bowls NSW and believes this to be in the best interests of the sport, it appears that an
agreeable position between the organisations cannot be reached at this point in time.