From a major flag change to educating the world about First Nations people: Inside Cricket Australia’s reconciliation plans – as top anti-Voice campaigner unleashes over Australia Day snub

Cricket Australia has outlined plans to place the Aboriginal flag on official clothing and use its “significant sphere of influence” to tell overseas visitors about the plight of First Nations people.

Daily Mail Australia can reveal that the sport’s national governing body has been working with Reconciliation Australia over the past five years to develop a plan to recognize Indigenous peoples.

A primary aim of the 104 ‘deliverables’ outlined in the Reconciliation Action Plan was to create and display ‘Recognition of Country’ plaques at all Cricket Australia facilities across the country.

It also detailed plans for ‘an analysis of the use of the Australian flag on Cricket Australia clothing with a view to the inclusion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags’.

Details of the reconciliation action plan have emerged a day after CEO Nick Hockley gave a trainwreck interview in which he defended Cricket Australia’s decision not to call Australia Day on day two of the test against the West Indies.

The move has caused a stir and comes after several iconic Australian brands, including Woolworths, withdrawn from the celebration of the national holiday.

Cricket Australia’s criticism has angered high-profile anti-Voice campaigner Warren Mundine. who said the organization’s foray into Indigenous affairs had “proven that they are one of the most divisive companies” in the country.

Details of the reconciliation action plan have emerged a day after CEO Nick Hockley (pictured) gave a trainwreck interview in which he defended Cricket Australia’s decision not to call Australia Day on day two of the test against the West Indies

“My view of reconciliation is bringing people together and not causing division,” he said.

Cricket Australia was one of the first organizations to speak out in support of the Indigenous Voice to Parliament.

The Reconciliation Action Plan unveiled a proposal to “use our significant sphere of influence” to “create a movement through our fans and participants so that we can all walk towards reconciliation together.”

One way Cricket Australia wanted to achieve this was by training the ‘thousands of international visitors’ who travel to Australia every year to attend major events.

“We have a responsibility to ensure that those visiting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander countries are appropriately welcomed and informed about the planet’s oldest living cultures,” the plan said.

‘With a national and international sphere of influence, we believe Cricket Australia is more prepared than ever to play a public and leading role in the reconciliation movement through our national teams, major events and digital platforms.’

The sports organization’s most recent Reconciliation Action Plan expired at the end of 2023 and the sports organization is in the process of developing a new, updated plan.

It is unclear which of the priorities outlined in the plan have been achieved.

Mr Mundine slammed Cricket Australia’s “rich, elite” board for “looking down on Aussies like we’re some idiots” after the call for Australia Day.

“They campaigned for the Voice and were crushed, and now they have gone out to attack Australia Day,” he told Daily Mail Australia.

“Australia Day is a day that brings together migrants who make this great country, and all the indigenous people who made this country great, and they just spit in our faces, thinking they’re the bees’ knees.

Cricket Australia was one of the first organizations to speak out in support of the Indigenous Voice to Parliament. In the photo, the Australian ODI team celebrates its World Cup victory

Anti-Voice to Parliament campaigner Warren Mundine told Daily Mail Australia that Cricket Australia’s foray into Indigenous affairs policy had “proven that they are one of the most divisive companies” in the country.

‘It’s time that these people who are enthusiastic about moral purity actually start bringing people together instead of treating us like idiots. If Cricket Australia really loves Australia, and cares about that badge on their hats and shirts, then act like it.”

It comes after Mr Hockley appeared to try to avoid using the words ‘Australia Day’ as he explained Cricket Australia’s decision to Ben Fordham on 2GB radio.

‘What day is Friday?’ Fordham asked the Cricket Australia CEO.

Hockley responded, “Well, Friday is a great national holiday for everyone.”

His answer prompted Fordham to ask the question again.

‘Friday is January 26th. It’s the Australia Day bank holiday weekend,” Mr Hockley finally replied.

He then tried to avoid the question when asked why it was so difficult to pronounce Australia Day.

‘If I may just clarify a few things. The first is that we have made no announcements this year and our approach on Friday is completely consistent with what we have done for the last four or five years,” Mr Hockley explained.

“We appreciate that many Australians celebrate Australia Day and love watching the cricket on that day.”

He added that the board was aware that January 26 was a difficult day for some of Australia’s best male and female cricketers, especially those from Indigenous backgrounds.

“We are not boycotting Australia Day in any way.”

Later on Tuesday, Australian cricket captain Pat Cummins said he wanted the date of the national holiday to be changed.

Cricket fans heading to the Gabba on Friday are ‘absolutely welcome’ to bring Australian flags, but won’t hear the words ‘Australia Day’ over the loudspeakers

He said January 26 is the wrong time to celebrate Australia Day and urged the government to change it to a “more appropriate date”.

“This conversation comes up every year and Cricket Australia has been pretty consistent over the last four or five years,” Cummins said.

‘My personal opinion is that I absolutely love Australia, it is by far the best country in the world. And I think we should have an Australia Day. But I think we can probably find a more suitable day to celebrate it.

Cummins said he was sticking to his guns for “a while.”

As part of their Reconciliation Action Plan, Cricket Australia had also agreed to ‘publicly support one national campaign’ each year, which was already being prioritized and supported by Reconciliation Australia.

Senior business leaders and players would be deployed to support the campaign.

Mr Hockley was promised as CEO that he would personally attend one reconciliation meeting each year.