Jeff Kennett: AFL, Qantas foolish for trying to be social conscience of Australia

People are attending the footy finals in droves because they want an escape from things that cause them stress and anxiety. So why does the AFL insist on preaching to them?

Sing Fat Lady, Sing

The old saying “it ain’t over till the fat lady sings” so often proves itself to be correct (although I guess I will have a reader suggest it should be “the overweight person” now to be politically correct).

In sport, in politics, in life itself.

The AFL game between Carlton and Melbourne last Friday night proved the adage correct yet again, when Melbourne seemed to have the game won in the dying minute of the game before Carlton stormed from the centre and kicked the winning goal.

So too is it of politics when the polling favourite gets beaten on polling day. Perhaps the last example being when the Bill Shorten ALP got beaten by Scott Morrison’s Liberals.

So might it be true for the forthcoming referendum on the 14th of October.

Right now, the opinion polls are all predicting the referendum will be lost. But polls are often wrong, and we will not know until polling concludes on Saturday the 14th the votes counted, and the results announced. Or the “fat lady sings.”

I will continue to argue strongly for the NO case on the one principle I have referred to often in this column.

Our Constitution should treat and respect all Australians equally, regardless of race, gender, or

religion.

Anthony Albanese speaks during the Yes23 campaign launch. Picture: Mark Brake

Our Constitution should not discriminate in favour or against any one citizen or groups of citizens, yet this is what the Federal government is asking us to support.

If the Yes case prevails, we will have entrenched within our Constitution positive discrimination, in favour of one group of Australians against the vast majority of Australians.

That is fundamentally and in principle wrong.

As I have said before this referendum, in the way it is being framed is so divisive. Sadly so, for whatever the result, one sector of Australians will be upset. Already we have been witness to some of the most bitter and disappointing language being used.

The community is about to be bombarded with an advertising campaign in support of the YES vote, funded by many Australian corporates.

I am sure once this referendum is concluded, many corporates and sporting codes will reassess their so public involvement in the referendum, which is of course a matter for the public’s decision, not corporates and sporting codes who don’t have a vote.

There is more than enough to occupy the minds of decision makers within their businesses and sporting codes without putting fifty per cent of their workforce, clients and customers off-side.

These bodies should be focusing on their core business and customers.

Take Qantas, the airline with a range of customer issues and reputation to address which I am sure they will do, but we have planes with the YES logo on their fuselage, and we get “welcome to country” over the public address system when on the plane.

All the passengers wants, all we pay for, is the plane to take off and land safely and on time, for our luggage to be handled efficiently, and to be welcomed and looked after professionally when in flight.

If I had been the new Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson, on taking over from Alan Joyce I would have ripped off the logos on those planes where they have been placed.

Qantas unveiled its new livery on three aircraft, in support of the Voice to parliament referendum. Picture: Qantas

A small thing, but a message that the new management is more focused on the paying customer than being the self-appointed social conscience for their passengers.

Same with the AFL. People are attending the finals in droves. Why, because they want to go to the football. To get away from the things that so often cause them stress and anxiety, their families and place of employment.

But no, the AFL like Qantas wants to be the social conscious of the world.

A woman was turned away from the game in Brisbane for wearing a YES campaign T-shirt. Not allowed according to the message on the AFL seat and entry ticket because it is political! But what is Welcome to Country before each game?

Should not Qantas, the AFL and others just stick to their core business?

Have we not got enough serious issues to deal with every day of our lives, cost of living, crime rates, accommodation availability and so the list goes on and on.

I want Qantas to be again the Qantas of old. Reliable, a trip to enjoy. I want going to the football to be a football outing again.

Give me the leaders of the future, in all walks of life, who will stick to their core business, and discharge their responsibilities well.

After we, the “fat lady” sings on October the 14th, can we please get some balance back in our lives?