PM Anthony Albanese enlists former NBA star Shaquille O’Neal for voice to parliament campaign

He’s 2.1m tall, has four NBA championship rings and a fair few dollars in the bank, but Shaquille O’Neal is throwing his support for an issue thousands of kilometres from home.

Anton Rose

@antonrosetweet

less than 2 min read

August 27, 2022 - 1:42PM

The Saturday Telegraph

Albanese praises Shaquille O'Neal's ability to 'bring different people together'

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The campaign for a voice to parliament now has one of the biggest supporters in the world, literally.

The Prime Minister has rolled out four-time NBA champion Shaquille O’Neal in a bid to get young Australians on board with his vision for an Aboriginal recognition in the constitution.

The 2.1 metre tall former LA Laker briefly lurked in the background as Anthony Albanese fielded questions from reporters in Sydney this morning before making a brief, bizarre cameo.

O’Neal and the Prime Minister exchanged Rabbitohs and Lakers jersey before “Big Diesel” walked in on the Mr Albanese and Indigenous Affairs Minister Linda Burney.

The Big Diesel with his new Rabbitohs jersey. Photo: Flavio Brancaleone

In a flying visit he met the PM to discuss the voice to parliament. Photo: Flavio Brancaleone

“Everybody knows Shaq loves Australia,” the former athlete said when greeting the pair in the middle of the press conference.

“I need that government clearance too.”

He took no questions.

He made a brief 30 second cameo. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Monique Harmer

The Prime Minister said in their brief meeting the basketballer turned DJ had agreed to highlight the campaign for a voice to parliament through his social media channels.

“Shaq has that record of particularly when it comes to bringing people together of different backgrounds which is consistent with our approach to a constitutionally recognised voice to parliament,” he said.

“Shaq is someone who is well known to younger people and one of the things that we have been doing is trying to mobilise support for the voice to parliament by sporting figures.”

Mr Albanese said Shaq “would speak to a global audience” and that it was important that campaign over the Aboriginal voice to parliament was seen across the world.