Susie O’Brien: The AFL needs to lead the charge against Aboriginal flag owner, WAM clothing
If the AFL wants to cement its position as a leader in black rights it needs to use its power and wealth to fight WAM clothing over its ownership of the Aboriginal flag, writes Susie O’Brien.
Susie O'Brien
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The AFL should lead the way for all Australians and proudly display Aboriginal flags at its Dreamtime round matches this weekend.
Legally, the AFL cannot have the iconic flag on players’ jerseys because it has refused to enter into commercial arrangements with the “owner” of the image, WAM clothing.
But it should do so anyway. The league has long paraded its Indigenous credentials, and it should take on the white owners of the company who bought the clothing rights for the flag in 2018.
I agree with the league’s decision not to do business with this non-Indigenous company, but bowing to their demands is just as bad.
Leading court action against the company, which is owned by two white people, would cement the AFL’s position as a leader in black rights.
The fact that one of the owners of WAM clothing is a businessman whose company was fined for faking Aboriginal art makes their position even more unacceptable. The company doesn’t care about Indigenous heritage - it just wants to make money.
The AFL is a powerful, wealthy organisation and should use its power to make a real difference.
Standing up to the company, and pursuing them in court on behalf of all Australians, would be worth more than anyone going down on one knee in front of an empty stadium.
The flag is more than an image that should be bought and sold – it’s a symbol of Aboriginal identity.
The idea that the Aboriginal flag is not there for people to freely display is outrageous.
Speaking on 3AW on Friday morning, AFL boss Gill McLachlan said the league paid “thousands” for the image last year but their Indigenous advisory council told them not to do so again this year.
“It’s an official flag of Australia and it should be able to be displayed proudly and people should be able to use the flag without entering into commercial arrangements,” McLachlan said.
I agree, but I want him and the AFL to go further. Indigenous Minister Ken Wyatt and Indigenous footy icon Michael Long have suggested that people should bring an Aboriginal flag to this weekend’s games. It’s a good idea, but doesn’t solve the problem. It doesn’t give the flag back to the Indigenous community.
When asked if the AFL is going to take any action, McLachlan replied “It’s for the government”.
I am sure the government, led by Ken Wyatt, will lead negotiations, but it would be good to see the AFL and NRL to play a key role.
Forcing the hand of the company that’s stopping the image being used by Indigenous players as a symbol of pride and identity would be a good first step.
If the AFL wants to be a real champion for inclusion and Indigenous rights, then it needs to take decisive legal action to free the flag.