AFL slammed as disgraceful for ‘urging clubs to support yes vote on the Indigenous Voice Parliament’

The AFL has been heavily criticized for a memo sent to clubs calling on them to take their stance on the Indigenous Voice to Parliament, with media personality Steve Price labeling the move as ‘disgraceful’.

The memo, sent by GM of Inclusion and Social Policy Tanya Hosch, urged clubs to advise the AFL whether they will support the Yes campaign ahead of the upcoming referendum.

“We invite and encourage you to advise us whether your club will take a position to support the yes campaign before the referendum,” the memo reads.

“As the AFL will be considering this in the coming weeks, your advice on this will be gratefully received.

“This information is being provided to provide guidelines regarding language to raise awareness of the referendum during the 2023 Sir Doug Nicholls round.”

The memo, sent by Inclusion and Social Policy GM Tanya Hosch (pictured), urged clubs to advise the AFL whether they will support the Yes campaign ahead of the upcoming referendum

Price revealed he was “appalled” by the memo and questioned why the AFL “needs someone like that” in Hosch’s position.

A senior executive has given AFL clubs until May 8, so a week away, to reveal before their native round whether they will tick Yes to a voting question that is still being debated for a referendum without a date that Australia considers no another divided referendum,” he said on Sky News Australia.

Price stated that the memo ‘shamefully’ does not question whether the club even takes a position on the Indigenous vote in parliament.

“It pushes for a yes position,” he said.

It will be fascinating to see if any of the clubs refuse to reveal a position, and why should they?

“I am a member of an AFL club with 100,000 financial members… I contribute three of those 100,000 memberships.

“Is my club going to poll its own financial members and sponsors at great expense to see if a majority of us want the club to push the Yes cause? … I bet they won’t.”

Price also said it was “fascinating” that the controversial memo became public around the time Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced funding for an AFL stadium in Tasmania.

Price stated that the memo ‘shamefully’ doesn’t ask whether clubs take a position on the Indigenous vote in the first place (pictured, Geelong players about to run through an Indigenous flag during the Doug Nicholls round )

AFL stars like Eddie Betts have supported the Voice ahead of the annual Doug Nicholls round (pictured, players from Richmond take part in a pre-match performance during last season’s Indigenous round)

“You have to wonder if those two things are somehow related,” Price said.

“You want the stadium money, then you make sure your clubs and you the AFL are behind the yes campaign that the Albanian government is cracking down on.

“The AFL probably would have pushed the Yes cause anyway, but why not do the governments get their hands on that kind of handout in what is being tipped as a horror budget next Tuesday.

“Sports and politics are never good bedfellows.”

Indigenous AFL legend Eddie Betts joined Adam Goodes last month in announcing his support for The Voice, insisting the proposal is a path to respect and inclusion.

Other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander sports stars such as Lance Franklin, Cathy Freeman, the NRL’s Johnathan Thurston and basketball player Patty Mills are lining up to be recruited to join the campaign, it has been reported.

“It’s a small step, but I think the right step is to have a voice and be heard,” Betts said. The age.

“I have spent the last 12 months speaking with elders, community members and people I trust to learn more about the voice. I have listened to different opinions and worked hard to understand exactly what the voice is and how it affects Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Aboriginal ABC presenter and former AFL player Tony Armstrong has admitted he ‘diddly squat’ about whether the vote would be good or bad for Aboriginal people

“I know the vote is not an immediate solution to the many barriers we face as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, but I feel it is the opening of a path to ensure we are included and respected in decision-making on issues that affect us.”

Aboriginal ABC presenter and former AFL player Tony Armstrong has admitted that until recently he “diddly squat” about whether the vote would be good or bad for Aboriginal people.

He said Aboriginal people should be the ones talking about the voice and admitted it was a complex subject.

“I’ll leave it to the people who really know about it to give advice on it,” the proud Barranbinya man told Stellar magazine.