Changes to the regulation of combat sports - Frequently Asked Questions

Changes to the Combat Sports Act 2013 and Combat Sports Regulation 2014

Why were the changes made?

The changes to the Combat Sports Act 2013 and the Combat Sports Regulation 2014 that commenced on 1 March 2019 are intended to promote combatant health and safety and reduce the administrative burden for the industry and Government.

Are promoters required to submit an Injured Combatant Evacuation Plan to the Combat Sports Authority before a contest?

Combat sport contest permits granted on or after 1 March 2019 now require the promoter to provide to the Combat Sports Authority an Injured Combatant Evacuation Plan not less than 5 days before the day of the contest.  

The Injured Combatant Evacuation Plan must be prepared and provided in the manner and form approved by the Authority.  The Injured Combatant Evacuation Plan template will be provided to promoters when granted a combat sport contest permit and placed on the Authority website.  

Are promoters required to notify the Combat Sports Authority of the sport rules that apply to each contest?

Combat sport contest permits granted on or after 1 March 2019 now require the promoter to provide to the Combat Sports Authority, in the approved manner and form, the title of the particular sports rules that relate to each combat sport involved in the combat sport contest.  This must be provided not less than five days before the day of the combat sport contest.  

Are there any changes to the lodgement of fight cards?

Combat sport contest permits granted on or after 1 March 2019 now also require the promoter to lodge the final fight card with the Authority not less than five days before the day of the contest in the manner and form approved by the Authority.  The final fight card must include the title (including full name and version) of the sports rules that apply to each specific contest on the card.

Are promoters now required to organise a pre-contest briefing?

Combat sport contest permits granted on or after 1 March 2019 now require the promoter to ensure that a contest does not commence unless the promoter, each referee and each medical practitioner appointed have attended a briefing with a combat sport inspector at which the Injured Combatant Evacuation Plan, the sports rules and the rules made under section 107 of the Combat Sports Act 2013 that relate to the particular contest will be communicated. 

Promoters will be required to confirm to the combat sport inspector at the pre-contest briefing that the Injured Combatant Evacuation Plan provided to the Combat Sports Authority has not changed and that the evacuation route detailed in that plan has been checked and is currently clear and accessible by a stretcher trolley and paramedics with medical equipment.

Can a trainer or second now formally ask for a combat sport contest to be stopped?

The Combat Sports Act 2013 now requires referees to immediately stop a contest if a trainer or second asks the referee to stop a contest in any circumstances where the trainer or second has a concern around the health or safety of their combatant. 

Before the contest, the referee, trainers and seconds may also agree the way, including by a signal, by which a request to stop a contest will be made.

The combatant’s trainers and seconds generally know their combatant better than anyone else. These changes empower trainers or seconds, if they are in any way worried about the welfare of their combatant, to ask a referee to stop a contest, which the referee must do immediately.

What are the key changes affecting referees?

The Combat Sports Act 2013 now requires referees to immediately stop a combat sport contest in the circumstances described in section 66 of the Act (‘Referee’s duty to stop contest’).

Referees must also now immediately stop a contest if a trainer or second asks the referee to do so because the trainer or second is concerned about the health or safety of their combatant.  Before the contest, the referee, trainers and seconds may agree the way, including by a signal, by which a request to stop a contest will be made.

Has the 21-day cooling off period for registration as a professional combatant been removed?

The 21-day cooling off period has been removed. This means that people applying for first time registration as a professional combatant will not have to wait 21 days before they can be registered as is currently the case. 

What are the key changes affecting medical practitioners?

Medical practitioners are now required to note any medical suspensions imposed on a combatant in the combatant’s medical record book and the relevant pre or post-contest medical examination forms.

The Combat Sports Act 2013 now also enables a medical practitioner to determine a combatant unfit to engage in a combat sport contest or sparring until a specified medical examination is conducted and/or until a specified date.

Medical practitioners are now required to attend the pre-contest briefing with the promoter, each referee and a combat sport inspector at which the Injured Combatant Evacuation Plan and the rules applicable to each contest will be discussed.  

Do I need to do anything differently when my registration is due to expire?

Registered persons must renew their registration class(es) by applying for registration no earlier than 8 weeks before the registration class(es) are due to expire.  Applications must be made via the Combat Sports Authority website.

Applicants must lodge all required information and pay the appropriate fee(s).  If an application is duly made before the expiry of the registration class(es), those registration class(es) are taken to be in force until the Combat Sports Authority notifies the person of a decision to renew or refuse the registration class(es).

How can I find out more?

Contact the Regulation Unit Combat Sport team on 13 13 02 or via email.