Federation University steps in to cancel Sam Newman footy speaking gig
A Ballarat university has stepped in to cancel a footy speaking gig featuring Sam Newman, saying the former AFL great didn’t align with its values.
Sam Newman says he’ll wear it as a badge of honour that he’s been cancelled from a footy speaking engagement in Ballarat.
The controversial footy great said he received a call a few days ago to say he “didn’t align with the values of the people who own the venue”.
The event on September 13, billed as An Evening with Sam Newman and Sam Kekovich Uncensored at the Founders Theatre, was described as being a celebration of two of the most iconic names in the world of AFL “playing for North Melbourne and Geelong, both being named in their respective teams of the century! Also building successful post game media career’s on Australian radio and TV screens over the footy season.”
Newman said it was ironic that he wouldn’t align with universities who “brainwash and radicalise” people.
The Founders Theatre in the Caro Convention Centre is part of the Mt Helen campus of Federation University.
There is a website still selling tickets to the event for $59 and $99 for a VIP photo opportunity. It was to be hosted by comedian Justin Karcher.
“It’s a bit bemusing that a university who would pride itself I reckon on free speech deems that I’m not suitable,’’ Newman said.
“I speak at functions and I’m very good at speaking and I’m very entertaining. I never speak about anything to do with the welcome to country or any politics. I speak about the way I played football and I speak about my media career and I’m very good at doing it.”
Newman, who is travelling around the country via caravan, said he’s got speaking gigs lined up through September in Beaconsfield, Traralgon and Devon Meadows.
“The only thing they might disagree with my values is, and I’m quite happy to keep stating this: the welcome to country is a hoax because it’s based on activism not tradition. And I don’t like trans men playing women’s sport. I actually think I would be in line with 90 per cent of the population,’’ he said.
“So if you want to hear me speak you’ll be entertained, you won’t be embarrassed, you won’t be offended because I don’t speak about any of those things. But the university have done some study and said ‘oh I don’t align with their values’. Thank god for that because we don’t radicalise and we don’t brainwash people.”
Kekovich said it would have been a night of “good old fun”.
“Sam’s far from toxic and I’m far from what they perceive to be offensive,’’ he said.
“I’ve got no idea.”
In June Sam Newman and Wayne Carey were blocked from appearing at a country football club fundraising event in Barwon Heads after considerable community backlash.
Federation University said they recently identified a third-party booking via their public venue hire system.
“The event’s performers have a documented history of making statements and platforming views that are harmful toward Aboriginal people, Jewish people and members of the LGBTIQA+ community,’’ they told the Herald Sun.
“While we support freedom of expression and robust dialogue, we have a responsibility to ensure that any event held on campus aligns with the University’s values — and our reputation and commitment to providing a safe and inclusive environment for our students and community.
“Following a review of the proposed event, we decided not to proceed with the venue booking. At Federation, we are proud to be a place of welcome, inclusion and safety. Our campus is home to students, staff and community members from a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, identities and cultures.
“We are proud of our zero-tolerance approach to racism and discrimination in all its forms. We take seriously our responsibility to ensure our campus reflects those values — not only in words, but in action.”
The University said the website is hosted by a third-party provider and is not connected to them.
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