‘How dare Shaq’: NBA legend’s appearance with Anthony Albanese slammed

More parliamentary figures are slamming Anthony Albanese’s appearance with Shaquille O’Neal, calling it an “insult” and a “stunt”.

Greens senator Lidia Thorpe has joined the chorus of senior parliamentary figures criticising Anthony Albanese’s polarising press conference with Shaquille O‘Neal over the weekend.

The towering 216cm NBA legend briefly joined the Prime Minister and Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney on Saturday to talk about the referendum on an Indigenous Voice to Parliament.

Mr Albanese said O’Neal had requested a meeting while in Sydney to learn about the issue.

But the fallout from the press conference has been mixed, with many questioning the four-time NBA champion’s relevance to the debate and the reason for the media call after the star did not verbally lend his support.

NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal shakes Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney’s hand. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Monique Harmer

Ms Thorpe hit out strongly against O’Neal’s appearance, calling it an “insult” to Indigenous Australians and the entire country.

“He's putting his nose into business that has nothing to do with him,” she told 3AW on Monday.

“He does not understand what is going on in this country … he should not be commenting.

“It's an insult to blackfellas in this country, let alone the rest of the country.”

She said given that many Australians did not know much about an Indigenous Voice to Parliament, an American celebrity should not be commenting on the issue.

“He’s come in commenting on our politics in our own country, which he knows nothing about except for a meeting with the Labor Party,” Ms Thorpe said.

“We don't know what this (an Indigenous Voice to Parliament) looks like, we don’t know what this means and people don’t understand that.

“How dare Shaq come over here and comment on something that our own people in this country don't understand.”

Greens senator Lidia Thorpe said Shaquille O’Neal’s appearance with Anthony Albanese was an ‘insult’. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Ian Currie

Ms Thorpe also said it was inappropriate for O’Neal to be commenting on such issues when he is sponsored by a gambling company like PointsBet.

She was not the only major parliamentary figure to slam the press conference after senior Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce questioned how the move could inspire anything but “cynicism” in Australians.

“Are you selling McDonald’s or changing the Constitution,” the former deputy prime minister told Sunrise on Monday.

“Why have you got an American basketball star standing at the podium about 10 feet taller than Anthony Albanese – what's this about?

“Why are we having a multi-millionaire American basketball star over here to talk about how we run our Constitution … how could (Labor) possibly think that would do anything but inspire cynicism?

“I saw it as he is their Prince Philip moment.”

Nationals Minister Barnaby Joyce said it was not surprising the press conference had been met with ‘cynicism’. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

The NBA legend only appeared briefly at the start of the press conference and did not take any questions from the media before quickly leaving.

But Labor minister Tanya Plibersek defended the government’s move, citing O’Neal’s importance as a “strong voice” for the black lives matter movement in the US.

“It’s a sign the referendum for a constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander is something that is important for Australians and something the world will be observing as well,” she said.

Country Liberals senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price called the Prime Minister’s “PR stunt” “clueless and out of touch”.

“If the PM and the Minister for Indigenous Australians think Shaq’s experience with “lifting people up who are marginalised” is the answer to winning votes for the Voice then it demonstrates just how clueless and out of touch they both are with what the needs of Aboriginal Australians are,” she wrote on Sunday.

“I’ve no doubt Shaq’s a top bloke, but it’s a bit insulting to call on a black American to help with black Australians as if this is all about the colour of one’s skin.”

Ms Plibersek said Ms Price was “entitled to her view” but again defended the government’s move.

Labor Minister Tanya Plibersek said Shaquille O‘Neal brought attention to an Indigenous Voice to Parliament. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

“It's not surprising that the world is looking at Australia at this important moment in our history and saying it would be great if First Nations Australians were able to speak up about the policies that affect their lives with a constitutionally enshrined voice,” she said.

“I think Shaquille O‘Neal brings a lot of style, power and attention to an important issue.”

Hi @AlboMP can I introduce you to @Patty_Mills… pic.twitter.com/a4YRsZg9Jz

— Stuart Ayres (@stuartayresmp) August 27, 2022

Mr Joyce then questioned why the government did not use Patty Mills, a fellow NBA champion who led Australia to its first international medal in men’s basketball at last year’s Olympics.

His support for Indigenous issues and advocacy for change is also well known.

O'Neal quickly left the press conference at its conclusion and did not take questions from media. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Monique Harmer

O’Neal only gave brief and vague comments at the start of the press conference and did not explicitly address the Indigenous Voice to Parliament.

“I'm here in your country, whatever you need from me, just let me know,” he said.

“We all know Shaq loves Australia.”

Ms Burney later said he had told them it was an “important” and “noble task”.