Aboriginal leaders left “gobsmacked” by AFL operating without a Reconciliation Action Plan

The AFL has been operating without a Reconciliation Action Plan for the last four years, a revelation which has stunned Aboriginal leaders who say the lapse is “absolutely shocking”.

The Sydney Swans Lance 'Buddy' Franklin at Barangaroo in Sydney with the Aboriginal flag ahead of this weeks AFL Indigenous Round where the Swans play Hawthorn Friday night at the SCG. Picture. Phil Hillyard

Aboriginal leaders say they are “gobsmacked” the AFL is operating without a Reconciliation Action Plan.

The league’s inaugural RAP expired four years ago and has yet to be updated.

An AFL spokesman told the Herald Sun it was working towards a renewed document but ex-federal Senator Nova Peris, Australia’s first Aboriginal gold medallist, said she was “saddened and disheartened” by the lapse.

She said it called into question the AFL’s commitment to indigenous Australians.

“It is absolutely shocking that the AFL has not bothered to renew their RAP since 2016,” Peris said.

“It sends a clear message that their efforts towards reconciliation are not genuine as their accountability framework is not there.

GWS Giants and North Melbourne players take a knee before their Round 2 match.

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“Most organisations have reconciliation embedded into their core operations with people assigned to ensure objectives are actioned with people being held accountable.

“Whoever was responsible clearly has not done their job.

“I sit on the Essendon Football Club reconciliation committee and we are very active in ensuring our commitments towards reconciliation will be achieved.

“Reconciliation Action Plan speaks for itself. It’s an action plan for organisations who are committed to reconciliation with positive outcomes.”

Football broadcaster Shelley Ware, last year’s Football Woman of the Year, said: “I’m gobsmacked. I just can’t believe it. You need to double check. My mind can’t grasp it.

“I have one at my school. How is this even possible?”

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Broadcaster Shelley Ware is stunned the AFL has let its RAP lapse.

Ware sits on Carlton’s reconciliation committee and helped deliver the Blues’ RAP.

“Carlton has embraced the RAP process — it is something that is embedded within the club as a priority and taken very seriously,” Ware said.

She said the club’s staunch defence of Eddie Betts, who suffered an online racial attack this week, was proof of the club’s commitment to reconciliation.

“That comes from having a RAP. It shows as a club they are prepared to stand behind Eddie Betts,” she said.

An AFL spokesman said: “The AFL’s updated Reconciliation Action Plan was in the final stages of completion before receiving final endorsement from Reconciliation Australia, however we now need to assess our plan against changes that may occur across the AFL as a result of the impact of COVID-19.

Aboriginal great Nicky Winmar lifts his jumper in one of sport’s most enduring images.

Our work with clubs and support for the Indigenous Players Alliance, continues to enhance our work towards us being an inclusive code and giving us insight and direction in what we need to do to continue to build an environment that provides opportunities for and with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

“We will be in a position to release an updated RAP and celebrate it in the coming months.”

The spokesman added: “The AFL’s Revised Enhanced Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Strategy, signed off by the AFL’s Indigenous Advisory Council, and presented to the AFL Commission by Advisory Chairman Paul Briggs, was endorsed by the AFL Commission in 2018.

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“The document leads the AFL’s Indigenous strategy and assists the industry in continuing to be part of social and cultural change in Australia.

“A key pillar is to ensure greater representation across the industry, starting with the AFL Commission, which led to the appointment of the first indigenous AFL Commissioner Prof. Helen Milroy in 2018.”

WHAT IS A RAP?

A Reconciliation Action Plan is an organisation’s formal commitment to be more inclusive of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. An organisation’s RAP is submitted every two to three years and endorsed by Reconciliation Australia.

Originally published as Aboriginal leaders left “gobsmacked” by AFL operating without a Reconciliation Action Plan