The AFL shouldn’t sit in silence: why it should support the Voice at the Grand Final

That’s not true. It denied Aboriginal people who weren’t eligible to vote in state elections the right to vote in federal elections. At that stage that only applied to Aboriginal people in Queensland and WA (which was abhorrent). Aboriginal people in the majority of the country were able to vote from the mid-1800’s. This is a very similar timeline to white men, who previously to then were only allowed to vote if they owned land, which excluded anyone who wasn’t wealthy from voting. You see, contrary to the left-wing rewriting of history, the gap in Australia was predominantly rich vs poor, not black vs white. It just doesn’t suit the narrative so they’ve changed it. Funnily enough, noone is complaining that white men couldn’t vote at that same time that Aboriginal men couldn’t vote.

No, their vote is directly apportionate to their population.

Whenever there is a controversial story making headlines we seem to always get some aparent rookie extolling the virtues of the story of the day on this football opinion site. This site should stick to football and not promote someones political agenda. I personally am sick of politics in sport. When it happens it always defaults to the politically correct narrative regardless of the rights or wrongs regardless of the view of the majority of the fans who support that sport. It is not their job to tell the people that support that sport how to vote. As for the Qantas chairman he has nothing to lose, the brand is already badly damaged. The AFL hierarchy needs to concentrate on the game and not side issues that may conflict with players staff and supporters of the game. When I hear over opiniated sportsmen promoting various political agendas I'm reminded of the saying, "If I want the opinion of someone who chases a ball, I'll ask my dog.

Lin, This is spot on, they will swim in the opposite direction to what they are being told. Boo the PM, etc. Plus the polls are very divided on this subject, the AFL on game day is better off staying out of it, beyond the stated position to support the Voice. My heart says Yes, head says No. Do your own research as they say.

The youth know there’s nothing to fear as well. There was a YES vote march across the Brooklyn Bridge in the USA. A few of them were interviewed and they all had something in common - youth. It is going to happen, if not now - soon. And to add a bit more controversy - hopefully, at the same time, they can move Australia Day to a better date!

May be you should “hop” over to the new courthouse oversee the compliance your honour.

Blind Freddy told me.

"The AFL never intended to find anyone guilty". Are you able to formally prove that statement or this just hearsay & your opinion?

There is something a little quirky. The Prime Minister wants to change the constitution by appointing non elected members to parliament, but won't provide us with the full details of how it is all going to work.

Spot on. It’s good everyone can “voice” their opinion……which is essentially all the Voice wants to do. Be even better when everyone wants to deeply listen and also do some homework beyond watching the Sky (is falling) loonies after dark, or “researching” beyond Wikipedia. As you say history and the big wide world out there shows there is nothing to fear.

Thanks – while I know everyone has a right to their own opinion, it was refreshing to hear yours. I also don’t need the AFL (and they certainly need to clean up their own backyard anyway) or any organisation to endorse something, and anyone who needs that (or gets information from Sky news, Tik Tik, etc or even worse they jump to a conclusion) is just superficial and haven’t thought about it properly. Our young population seems to be on board so dwindling opposition will occur. As I said before – I will feel shame and embarrassment if this goes down. Our reputation overseas for looking after our First Nations people is already terrible. We only need to look at the success of other countries in implementing The Voice, and Treaty as well, to realise there’s nothing to fear.

Grem, from what I've read amongst all the posts it reads like you've put more research and thought into your comments than most. I think it's potentially too div1sive for the AFL to jump on board. The no campaign has largely been based on and driven by a dud opposition leader desperately seizing an opportunity with the usual suspects in an opportunistic right w1ng media, for good old fe@r m0ngering and wh1pping up hyster1a. Pushing the usual fe@r buttons in the cozy and comfy majority and/or the desperately ignor@nt. This type of fe@r was also wh1pped up around native title. Pardon the pun but it's just too much of a political football now and it probably is fair enough that people don't want to be dictated to by the AFL. It's not like the AFL is right up there in the credibility stakes anyway with their track record in crass commercialism and g1mmicky chit. I also think Albanese and co could have handled it better and timing has not been great. It looks like it won't get up but you never know. Given that it's an advisory board only it's not that big a deal but it's a shame it's become such a divisive issue when it was an opportunity for the country to come together.....but that's politics now in modern Australia. Imagine what will happen if/when the push for Treaty happens. This is more important. The amount of hyster1a stirred up around that one will be another level or 10. But that may take another generation anyway and hopefully by then that innate redn3ck rationalising self-justifying fe@r in the Australian psyche that jumps at its own guilt ridden deeply repressed shadows will continue to gradually dwindle into an insignificant "voice".

At least the new racism case launched today by 7 former players should have a better opportunity of findings. It will play out in a proper court and not in front of an “independent” committee (kangaroo court) appointed by the AFL.

https://www.afr.com/companies/sport/indigenous-stars-launch-racism-class-action-against-afl-20230915-p5e531 Even more smoke! Is this another example of racism or not? I think Hawthorn racism scandal is an appropriate title for the other case!

And if you don’t know about forced sterilisation, contraception and abortion for First Nations people after settlement occurred then you should read up on it. That’s why this situation, if it has a chance to be proven, I’d racist.

The AFL never intended to find anyone guilty. They were just hoping they could pay it some lip service and it would go away and be forgotten, but it’s not going to just go away. We’ll see how it all turns out when an impartial group (Australian Human Rights Commission) actually look at this situation seriously. Nicky Winmar, Peter Everett/Scott Chisholm, Adam Goodes, Eddie Betts, Matthew Rendal, Ugle-Hagan, etc and now this – they have just let this issue fester away.

"It read that neither the coaches nor families were formally interviewed before it wound up." Exactly. They refused to be interviewed. So if the "victims" refuse to be part of the process, what do you expect to happen? Should the "accused" just be found guilty?

You still haven't said how we are going to close the gap with a Voice to Parliament and why we can't do that now. A little research indicates that the NIAA was set up in 2019 and part of its' purpose (as defined on its' website) is explained as follows: "We lead and influence change across government to ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have a say in the decisions that affect them." The NACCHO has been around for much longer and according to their website "The team uses its wide-ranging policy and research expertise to contribute toward policies that achieve better outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people." These are just two of the many indigenous organisations that are clearly acknowledging that part of their role is to advise Government on policies that affect indigenous and TSI people. So, either these organisations are not doing an effective job of providing this advice or the Governments are not listening. If it is the former then another advisory board is not going to have anymore success - unless it is provided with a big stick and can force the Government to make change. If it is the latter, then Mr Albanese and Ms Burney should be listening and acting NOW - not waiting for a VTP. The ALP has the majority in the House of Reps and would get support from the Greens in the Senate if genuine policies were put forward after advice from these bodies. A new advisory body will be duplicating the work of other bodies and will inflate the already bloated public service in Canberra. This will continue to chew up vast sums of money whilst indigenous people in remote communities continue to live in unsatisfactory conditions. You are living in a dream world if you think another advisory body is necessary. As I have said before, this is just one of the issues I have with the Voice proposal. I honestly believe Mr Albanese has completely stuffed this up and has probably put the indigenous cause back 20 years.

the corporate world would back free Heroin for children under 12 if It was largely profitable

No, that’s not the story – white coach + black players + advice to separate + advice to abort would probably = racism and it’s definitely a scandal. The whole situation needs to be investigated properly and independently. I’m assuming they weren’t comfortable speaking to the “independent panel” commissioned by the AFL. It read that neither the coaches nor families were formally interviewed before it wound up. This was appallingly handled by the AFL and you’re right – the truth hasn’t come out. It seems like the AFL just wanted to sweep it under the carpet. We will see what the Australian Human Rights Commission or the Federal Court (if needed) find, and hopefully it is justice.