I’ve been to many airports to welcome – and see off – rugby league teams.
Roughly this time last year at Heathrow Shane Warne emerged from customs with a bodyguard and waved at waiting cameras. Except they weren’t waiting for him.
We were all there for the Cronulla Sharks, in town for the World Club Challenge. Warne shrugged and walked on.
When the Australian Four Nations side lobbed into Manchester the previous October the cameras were ordered outside. You need prior approval to film inside Manchester Airport along with many, many others around the world.
But I want to talk about airport officials in Australia, who, presumably with the help of customs and immigration, help sports people out the side door when they arrive back in the country.
Wayne Bennett was offered and took this option in 2005 after his Australian side returned home losers in a series for the first time in 28 years. In 2015 Sam Thaiday even playfully made reference to this when Bennett and Mal Meninga were enjoying some banter.
AAP Image/Action Photographics, Renee McKay)
And last week Jarryd Hayne appeared to receive favourable treatment after he returned from Israel as a US civil case alleging rape hung over his head.
In these cynical times it is easy to think of the media as nothing more than a commercial entity desperate to be fed raw material which it can then lace with ads and pass on for the public’s titillation and entertainment.
But no matter how bad things get, democracy does need a free press to operate properly. If you don’t know what your leaders are doing, you can’t make an informed decision on whether to elect or re-elect them.
I’m a bit idealistic like that; I still think the job of the news media is to tell you what’s going on, not flog stuff to you. That should just be a by-product of the media doing its job, not its modus operandi.
I know; I probably still believe in the tooth fairy too…
But I don’t see how people who are paid from the taxpayer’s purse should be protecting people from scrutiny just because they are famous by ushering them out the side door of a secure area like the customs hall.
I have no personal interest in door-stopping a troubled sportsman at an airport; I personally don’t care what door they come out of.
But on principle it seems wrong to me. How was it in the national interest to help Wayne Bennett or Jarryd Hayne avoid answering difficult questions?
I mean, it’s okay if it’s the Beatles. There is a public safety imperative in stopping young girls getting trampled and an airport terminal grinding the halt. But only a select few would have known about Hayne’s arrival and the fact Bennett had just lost a football match.
Colleague Andrew Webster reports that the side exit is made available for those who rent a press conference room. But shouldn’t we check that the person involved is actually having a press conference?
If customs and immigration work for us, they wouldn’t be trying to protect someone who is accused of – and sure, strenuously denies – a serious crime. They wouldn’t be hanging them out to dry, mind you, either.
I just don’t think special treatment is justified.
Big Daddy
Guest
Just show him the exit door . Full stop !!!!?
Reg
Guest
Ban the media from airports, its private property. Media are a joke do they really think he will open his gob and make a comment about it after the usual stupid questions wanting a sound bite.
northerner
Guest
So far as I know, the media only have access after Customs, Immigration and AQIS have done their thing. So if there's a media scrum outside the secure area, what concern is it of any authority?
Dave_S
Guest
Maybe they have, I truely have no idea, but strategically I’m not seeing what’s in it for Para to gag him. Sure, they might if Para was implicated in the accusation, but they aren’t in this case. Even if Hayne has done something wrong (stressing IF), I don’t see it reflecting poorly on Para. They can let the NRL play the bad guy if there is any sanction like stand-down to be considered. To me, a gag would just make it look like they have something to hide, which they don’t.
Larry1950
Guest
Shush, it's a JH free week, do not provide oxygen!!
Nat
Roar Guru
No, I was wrong to say Court of Law, which I corrected. The Police (Law Enforcement) found he had no case to answer, look it up. This is a civil suit - for money, as I stated this morning and you want him stood down for it but still won't say why.
FnQ
Guest
Thanks BA point taken.
Dave_S
Guest
“and give his Club and solicitors a chance to make sure he only answers certain questions” And that’s well within reason, at least as far as his solicitor goes. No-one is expected to answer every question put to them by a journalist, especially if they’re accused of a serious crime that they deny.
BA Sports
Guest
And FnQ he hasn't been accused of "rape" specifically either.. at least not by the papers to be put before the court in the civil suit. They are claiming gender violence - which includes many things including possibly rape, and sexual battery - which usually means unwanted physical contact such as groping. But don't feel bad, you and the entire Australian media get that wrong...
FnQ
Guest
Law enforcement don't make rulings Nat, that is the role of the judiciary. That's three statements from you now all based on personal opinion and all incorrect. Talk about clouded judgement and throwing mud without evidence.
Paul
Roar Guru
and give his Club and solicitors a chance to make sure he only answers certain questions. The one thing he can't afford to do, is drop a big pile of brown stuff in his own nest or bring Parra or the NRL into disrepute with an ill advise remark
Paul
Roar Guru
I'd bet dollars Parra has put a gag on him, which is what I was alluding to with my comment about not being allowed to answer any questions.
way no way
Guest
Steve Media scrums at the airport are the textbook example of predatory media behaviour just itching for a misspoken sound bite from a jetlagged 'celebrity'. Hayne was right to go through the side door. I see no reason why the media can't ask the exact same questions they planned to ask him in a scheduled press conference where Hayne at least has the opportunity to sleep, shower, freshen up beforehand and answer in a calmer environment.
Nat
Roar Guru
More personal opinion clouding your judgement. He has been 100% cooperative with all law enforcement and they made the ruling. You just hope no one throws this type of mud at you without any evidence and you lose everything.
Dave_S
Guest
It’s not correct that he is not allowed to answer questions (or make statements) about the matter. Defendants / Respondants in criminal/civil matters do it all the time. That said, sometimes the most sensible course is to say nothing, or at least stay quiet on certain points.
Dave_S
Guest
Ok, it’s a sensible decision to get that done. I probably went in a bit hard on you there, Steve - he should of course be answering questions about what is a very serious allegation. My issue was more about it being conducted as an ambush at the airport, the type of event that almost invariably is designed to provide footage for a slow news night and rarely extracts anything newsworthy.
Dave_S
Guest
As I understand it, the US authorities decided there was insufficient evidence to proceed with a criminal case. That’s not the same as ‘no case to answer’. It does however leave unanswered the question of what actually happened and what (if any) moral or legal wrong he has committed. He says he has done nothing wrong. Reasonable minds can differ on whether or not he should be stood down.
Greg Ambrose
Guest
I have absolutely no interest in seeing anybody ambushed by the media at an airport. All we get is a 'no comment' and a lot of hustle and bustle. It is a non event. It's a bit like political journalists constantly harassing a potential challenger for the leadership of a party with the same ridiculous question. ' do you rule out challenging for the leadership ' . We can all wait until Hayne wants to speak.
FnQ
Guest
"No case to answer"? more misinformation.
Steve Mascord
Expert
I think Jarryd is facing the media today at training.