Jeff Kennett ‘regrets’ comments after AFL boss Gillon McLachlan says Hawks boss was wrong
After doubling down on comments about the ethnicity of AFL security staff, Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett is sorry. And a conversation with AFL boss Gillon McLachlan might have prompted the apology.
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Jeff Kennett has apologised for comments made about security staff at Marvel Stadium after AFL boss Gillon McLachlan called the Hawthorn president to tell him he was out of line.
Kennett sparked outrage among fans when on Monday he suggested security were “new arrivals” who didn’t “appear to have a great knowledge of our game”.
On Tuesday morning Kennett refused to back down, saying his comments were not racist and he was “certainly not backing away from it at all.”
“I am not going to be driven into the ground by some sort of political correctness,” Kennett said.
McLachlan fronted the media early on Tuesday afternoon where he scolded the one-time Victorian Premier, saying his comments weren't acceptable.
Less than half an hour after McLachlan’s press conference finished, Kennett took to social media to apologise.
This morning I spoke to Gill McLachlan about my comments yesterday 're a Behavioural Awareness Officer at Marvel Stadium at Friday night's game. I expressed my regret at using some of the words I did and apologise for doing so.
— Jeff Kennett (@jeff_kennett) June 18, 2019
“This morning I spoke to Gill McLachlan about my comments yesterday ‘re a Behavioural Awareness Officer at Marvel Stadium at Friday night’s game,” Kennett tweeted.
“I expressed my regret at using some of the words I did and apologise for doing so.”
That sentiment was at odds with Kennett’s stance from earlier in the day, and were seemingly prompted by a talk from McLachlan.
“I’ve spoken to Jeff today and told him I clearly believe that he’s wrong and I know Jeff regrets his comments,” McLachlan said.
“I know he’s said stuff this morning. I’ve had a number of conversations with him this afternoon and I know he regrets the offence that’s caused.”
Asked if Kennett was being treated differently to an AFL player — who might face sanction for racially-charged comments — McLachlan said the Hawks boss was contrite, but there is a provision for the League to take action.
“There’s rule 35 but that requires a complaint, and that’s not what’s happened here and Jeff has regretted his comments, and I’m really clear about where the AFL stands on this,” McLachlan said.
So is it case closed?
“I’m giving the view of the AFL, which is that this is unacceptable, I don’t agree with what Jeff said and I know that he regrets making those comments and couldn’t be clearer about that.”
This morning Kennett doubled down on his controversial “racial profiling” comments as former Hawk star Cyril Rioli took to social media to express his disappointment.
Amid the furore over the Marvel Stadium crackdown on crowd behaviour, Kennett yesterday claimed security staff who have been called in to patrol AFL crowds were not equipped to perform the roles because they are “new arrivals” to Australia.
“I’m not being racist when I say this, but when I saw some of the footage, the people who are making judgments while they wear these authoritative coats are not people who appear to have a great knowledge of our game,” Kennett said on 3AW yesterday.
“And yet they make judgments about what’s correct and what’s not correct.
“They are new arrivals to Australia, it appears. We don’t know that and they could be born here.”
It prompted Rioli, one of the game’s greatest indigenous players and a favourite son of Kennett’s club, to post on his Instagram story a report on Kennett’s comments, accompanied by the facepalm emoji.
The comments were largely decried, but Kennett would not take a backward step when he appeared on SEN’s Breakfast with Garry and Tim this morning.
“Did I go too far? Some of you may have thought so, but I am certainly not backing away from it at all,” Kennett said.
“I am not going to be driven into the ground by some sort of political correctness.
“Most of our security people now are people who are more recent entrants to the country. Now I am not opposed to that at all.
“Please don’t drive me into the bloody ground. My stance on immigration is very public. I have always been about multiculturalism. I was the first to attack (One Nation Party leader) Pauline Hanson about her comments about the Asian threat, so I am not going to change my views at all.
“I am expressing what I saw and what I believe has occurred.
“I think it was wrong, I think (AFL boss) Gill (McLachlan) is going to correct it and for that, I am grateful.”
Kennett was asked “so you don’t believe in any way that your comment yesterday was racist?” and he replied: “Of course it’s not and anyone who knows me knows that’s not the case.”
But Western Bulldogs president Peter Gordon says Kennett’s comments were divisive.
“It’s really disappointing … as a general guide for Jeff and for everyone else, if you’re starting a sentence with ‘I’m not being racist but...’, chances are, you’re about to say something racist, so better just not to do it,” Gordon said on SEN’s Whateley.
“I’m not sure that it helps anyone … you’re compelled to ask yourself questions (like) what do new arrivals look like? What do we look like?
“How is it anything other than racial profiling?
“It’s a sensitive issue and I think he’s been entirely unhelpful to the debate.”
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Marvel Stadium chief executive Michael Green on Sunday said he would oversee a review of procedures which included security staff more frequently patrolling aisles during Friday and Saturday night games at the venue.
The move followed a Carlton supporter being ejected from Marvel Stadium the previous week for calling an umpire a “bald-headed flog”.
AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan has denied the league has directed any crackdown on fan behaviour.
