Super Netball players get minimum pay increase

Netball Australia wants its top-flight league to be the benchmark for women's world sport after announcing a new pay deal.

Players from the eight Super Netball clubs will earn a minimum of $30,000, up from $27,375, from next season.

The minimum player wage for the final year of the Trans-Tasman Championship in 2016 was $13,250.

Each club will have a base total of $515,000, up $15,000, to spend on their 10 players, along with access to an extra $150,000 for employment, education and ambassador roles.

Netball Australia set the bar for payments in women's sport, announcing a mammoth increase ahead of the inaugural Super Netball season in 2017.

There was also a landmark five-year broadcast deal with the Nine Network and Telstra, which has increased the profile of the sport and earnings for Netball Australia.

Ratings were so impressive in 2017 that the two broadcast games a round have moved from GEM to Nine's main channel this year.

This helped boost Netball Australia's latest financial report, which saw revenue increase by almost 70 per cent to $26.8 million, while sponsorship income has more than tripled to $12.3 million.

While the new pay deal is modest in comparison to the one launched in 2016 as the average player salary remains around $67,000, the Australian Netball Players' Association is happy with the outcome.

ANPA chief Kathryn Harby-Williams said increasing the minimum wage was key in their negotiations.

The new figure is effectively three times more than the AFLW minimum salary of $10,500, but that could increase when two new teams enter the league next season.

Cricket Australia gave its women's players a huge pay rise last year, with state representatives who also play in the WBBL earning no less than $36,000.

In America, the minimum a WNBA player can be paid is about $47,000.

Netball Australia boss Marne Fechner says she is eager for the league to set the standard for women's sport.

"We are driven to set new benchmarks and make Suncorp Super Netball the number one women's league globally," Fechner said.

"It's fantastic that young girls now have a genuine career pathway in netball and more broadly, women's sport."

All players' private health fund insurance has risen to $1635.

Clubs are unable to approach rival contracted players until at least the day after the grand final, which will be held on August 25 or 26.