Terrible decision from BA. Abby Bishop didn't ask to be in the situation she's in. She's stepped up big time to help her family at a very tough time. Very poor form BA, very poor

Is Australia so talent rich that it's OK for BA not to do everything possible for players as talented as Bishop? Sounds like an unpreparedness to do everything to get the best ten players to squad.

insensitive comments aside. I have to highlight a point that Harmison raises re DAS or direct athlete financial support provided by the government.(http://www.ausport.gov.au/ais/australias_winning_edge/direct_athlete_support_scheme) athletes receive a considerable amount from the government anywhere from (10-20k/6months) to offset some of the expenses that a national sporting organisation can not provide. some athletes spend it on airfares, some spend it on shoes some on hotels and some would spend it on childcare. harmison makes a valid point that abby never made herself available for opals and therefore was deemed not eligible for DAS, but would have been receiving DAS payments previously from the government for her past performances at an international level. put simply DAS is welfare for athletes. so is it not the DAS system failing the athlete on this situation and not basketball australia? if you spend some time in another olympic sport you will see that situations like this facing bishop are not uncommon. it is just disappointing to see the entitlement culture of basketball rearing its ugly head before asking the question, what has bishop received in the past and is she now entitled to some welfare to support her quest to the world championships?

Can someone explain to me how the parenting rules have forced Bishop out of the Opals?

I don't know how much BA can be expected to be drawn on this. Does Abby have a family who can help out or people to chip in to cover the costs, or someone to tag along and babysit when needed?

From Santamaria's article, this Bogut quote:

"This is a rare, one off issue that needs to be further looked at by BA and highly considered."

is she also expected to cook dinner every night for her husband as an Opal?

Suppose the following players asked for the same support Abby needs, what would BA do?
Lauren Jackson
Liz Jackson
Andrew Bogut
Pat Mills
Matt Dellavedaova
Aaron Baynes
Dante Exum [in another 4 years]
Kyrie irving [if he made himself eligable]
I'm guessing we all know the answer!
A few years ago, Mick Malthouse was asked if all players at Collingwood had to follow the same off-field "rules", he admitted that he treated some players differently to others, these players are almost all gone know Buckleys coach.
What do I think? if Abby is selected to represent the Opals, then BA should give her every bit of support she needs.

It should be noted, though, there are already govt programs in place to give her and other elite athletes support when representing Australia.

Once an athlete is receiving that support I think that's where BA could reasonably be expected to fill gaps in cases like this, rather than bear all the cost straight up.

Basketball Australia receives financial support from the Australian Government and it is minimal to support not only the Opals and Boomers, Wheelchair teams and all the Junior teams

People saying "other women don't get childcare covered" well yes they do actually. The government funds childcare for a lot of people so they pay a portion of the bill.

It's an unusually circumstance both Abby and BA are in, and personally think BA could've fixed this issue without it really costing that much extra than normal if at all.

I'm amazed that this story has evolved from something so simple and every-day. Pretty crafty on the part of the people who are anti-BA.

Abby is a great basketball player. Abby is a fantastic person. Abby is a great mother. But no workplace is going to hire you AND pay your childcare so that you can work, which is essentially what this is really about.

Isaac pointed it out earlier: What is BA supposed to do? If this were really about equity, then BA would be required to offer the same support for the Boomers, Rollers and Gliders at the very least. Considering how little is invested in the wheelchair teams, I just can't see how it's sustainable to make an exception here; as silly as that looks on the surface.

I understand that it's only for two weeks, but at the same time doesn't that same argument work both ways. There isn't one person in the family that could step up?

I despise BA, and still want my NBL team back on the Gold Coast. But I can't hack at them on this one. And looking at the online poll, it seems that more people feel this way than the online sentiment would have you believe.

- Brock

Sorry yes she's a great player, but really why should BA pay for her child adopted or otherwise, it's HER responsibility, that's what being a parent is all about. It would be doable with support from HER family which is what family us all about after all it's not long term it's short term. Bishop would be getting a wage just like any other patent and in some cases more than other parents who have to find ways to make ends meet. I think if she really wanted to go she would find a way. But another point to make is the amount of cuts across the board that BA have made , yet Joyce is being paid a ridiculous amount of money, and instead of using facilities at Canberra for training camps he's jaunting all over the state using resources BA supposedly don't have in airfares and accommodation for athletes. Maybe cut HIS spending and maybe they can pay the athletes a bit more then bishop could afford to take her baby away.

"People saying "other women don't get childcare covered" well yes they do actually. The government funds childcare for a lot of people so they pay a portion of the bill."

Ricey you are a clown. If Abby wants to put her child's name down for a place in a child care centre then she can have the same as anybody else. This is completely different from expecting your employer to provide or support child care.

Your argument makes no sense. Obviously you miss the point.

It does when the government would be the one paying her, and the government is the one subsidising the child care payments.
Why not make an attempt to subsidise it at a minimum like other people would at home when leaving the child at child care. Even if it's only for training, game and team commitments in general.
There's more to the story obviously, but for the cost to BA for 2 weeks for a once off that they could minimise or even get rid of if did things smartly, it's worth it. We should be putting the best team on the court at all costs

Ricey, it's only two weeks she should pay her own way, the child is not BAs responsibility, all her focus should be on basketball when away the fact they are happy for child to go should be enough.