Skateboarding Data Collection - Competition Taskforce
The Australian Government has established the Competition Taskforce to review current industry practices and find ways to make Australia a fairer, more dynamic place for employees, contractors, and businesses.
Right now, the Taskforce is actively investigating how restrictive contracts are being used to stifle workers. Specifically, they are reviewing:
Non-compete clauses: Restrictions that prevent people from working for competitors or starting their own ventures after leaving a business.
Broader restraints of trade: Clauses designed to lock individuals out of working within their own industry.
Predatory contract behaviours: The practice of burying these restrictions in documents outside of standard employment agreements, or hiding them behind confidentiality clauses to intimidate workers.
The Big Change Coming in 2027
As part of these reforms, the Federal Government plans to make non-compete clauses illegal for workers earning under the high-income threshold (currently $183,100 per year), effective from 2027. Crucially, this legislation is expected to void these restrictive clauses even within existing contracts.
Why This Matters for Skateboarding
We know that some skate schools and corporate programs currently use these clauses to restrict coaches who want to branch out, start their own programs, or continue developing athletes independently.
We are launching this initiative to:
Educate our community about their rights and the new laws coming into effect.
Gather real-world stories and feedback regarding how restraints of trade are currently being used to pressure skateboarders.
Provide concrete evidence to lawmakers demonstrating exactly how these corporate behaviours negatively impact the grassroots sporting community.
Receive anonymous insight from community on other ways skateboarders feel effected by something they deem ‘unfair’
We Need Your Voice
We are running a stakeholder survey across the skateboarding community. The results will be submitted directly to the Competition Taskforce as a formal case study, showing the government exactly how these restrictions affect the sports sector.
All information received is completely anonymous.
By participating, you are not just helping to make skateboarding a fairer place to be in you are helping to set a precedent for sports across the country.
Please use the button below to complete the survey and share your experience.