Mike O’Connor: Shaquille O’Neal press conference with Anthony Albanese a cynical political exercise

Don’t blame Shaq. He was duped into being part of a cynical political exercise by a Prime Minister who promised that under him, politics would be different, writes Mike O’Connor.

How fortunate are we as a nation to have been treated to the wisdom of an American basketball player as it relates to matters affecting our Constitution.

When in need of sage advice on one of the most far reaching and significant issues to be considered by this country, one with the potential to impact the lives of all Australians, who better to turn to but a man who was paid millions of dollars to run up and down a basketball court and throw a ball through a hoop in a country 12,000km away?

Enter Shaquille O’Neal who appeared beside Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in a truly bizarre media conference at which both the PM and O’Neal spruiked the virtues of a Yes vote for a constitutional referendum to create an Indigenous Voice.

Mr Albanese claimed that it was O’Neal’s idea. That sounds about right. Ex-basketball player visiting Australia wakes up one sunlit morn and says: “I know what I’ll do today. I’ll contact the Prime Minister and ask him if I can show up at his press conference and tell him what a great idea is The Voice.”

Really? I would contend that Mr O’Neal, aka Shaq, knows as much about Australian current affairs and its body politic as my pet budgie. He came to Australia to make money with people paying up to $500 a head to hear him share his life and times, proof positive that some people suffer an overabundance of spare time and money.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese holding a press conference with Minister for Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney and NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal. Picture: Monique Harmer

Did someone in the PM’s entourage, on learning of the great man’s presence in the country, have a light-bulb moment. “Let’s get Shaq,” they cried. “He’s famous and he’s black and he’s sure to back The Voice after we tell him what a great idea it is.”

Did Shaq seek the views of anyone arguing the No case before he endorsed the PM’s stance? What do you think? “He is interested in this country,” Mr Albanese said. “He knows that we are a warm and generous people, and he wanted to inform himself about what this debate was about by engaging directly with the Minister for Indigenous Affairs and myself as the Prime Minister.”

It was a terrific meeting,” Mr Albanese cooed. I would suggest that Shaq is interested in this country because he has discovered that some of its inhabitants are prepared to pay $500 to hear him speak. In this regard, our generosity is unquestioned.

Indigenous Affairs Minister Linda Burney all but swooned in the Shaq’s presence, describing this near life-altering experience as “wonderful”. How nice for her.

“I’m really pleased and very proud that Shaq has sought a request through the Prime Minister to specifically talk about the plans that we have in relation to a referendum. He said it was a noble task, that it was important,” she gushed.

It is worth noting that Shaq exited the stage before anyone could ask him any tricky questions like “did the Prime Minister’s office contact you and tell you what to say?”

Who else, I wonder, will the Prime Minister recruit as he tries to convince the populace of the need for an Indigenous-only chamber?

Shaquille O'Neal exits the building. Picture: Monique Harmer

Can we look forward to Barack Obama dropping down to Oz to tell us how he thinks we should be running our country or perhaps some Hollywood personalities would be nice. They would, it seems, have to be possessed of the right racial heritage so maybe Denzel Washington or Will Smith or Samuel L Jackson will bless us with their views.

Can you imagine, just for a moment, the President of the United States inviting a visiting Australian sports person to share the stage with him on a nationally televised press conference and getting him to endorse his policies?

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney and Shaquille O’Neal. Picture: Flavio Brancaleone/The Sydney Morning Herald

I can just see cricketer Steve Smith standing outside the White House with Sleepy Joe Biden and expanding on his views on the American constitution and the need to change it.

It’s an insult to our collective intelligence to turn The Voice debate into a circus by conscripting visiting celebrities to chant the government’s line.

You can’t blame Shaq. He was duped into being part of a cynical political exercise by a Prime Minister who promised that under him, politics would be different.

Lots of money aside, Shaq has something else by which to remember his visit to Oz in the form of two South Sydney Rabbitohs jerseys presented to him by the PM. I’m sure he’ll treasure them forever. A circus indeed.