Quote Originally Posted by halo se7en View Post
I've never understood this restraint of trade thing... isn't it just the same as some company not hiring me because they don't think I'm suitable for their company? What's the difference?
I think one of the player managers and Gus Gould made a statement about free markets and the restraint of trade thing - and it snowballed from there.
But none of it is factual unfortunately and really only garners the approval of people with out any knowledge in law or economics for that matter.

If we refer to section 92 of the Australian constitution we will find the following:

"92. Trade within the Commonwealth to be free
On the imposition of uniform duties of customs, trade, commerce, and intercourse among the States, whether by means
of internal carriage or ocean navigation, shall be absolutely free.
But notwithstanding anything in this Constitution, goods imported before the imposition of uniform duties of customs
into any State, or into any Colony which, whilst the goods remain therein, becomes a State, shall, on thence passing into
another State within two years after the imposition of such duties, be liable to any duty chargeable on the importation
of such goods into the Commonwealth, less any duty paid in respect of the goods on their importation."

Good luck to anyone saying that this would apply to Todd Carney or indeed any Rugby League player.
With respect to the economic side of things there is no such thing as a free market. It's a pedagogical device used in textbooks - nothing more.