Essendon apologises to Andrew Thorburn

Essendon has apologised after reaching a settlement with the ex-NAB boss over its handling of his exit as the club’s chief executive.

Essendon Football Club has apologised to Andrew Thorburn after reaching a legal settlement with the former NAB boss over its handling of his appointment and subsequent exit as the AFL club’s chief executive after revelations he was chair of a Christian church that preached anti-abortion and homosexual views.

In a joint statement announcing the settlement, Essendon said it “reiterates that (Mr Thorburn) is a person of integrity who treats others, whether at work or elsewhere, with dignity and respect”.

“The club acknowledges that the events of October should have been handled better and apologises for the impact it had on Mr Thorburn, his family and others,” the statement reads. “Both parties consider that elements of the public commentary at the time were extreme and wrong and counter-productive to the respectful community dialogue they agree is critical.

“Everyone should be able to openly express their personal position, in a respectful way, without fear and still feel that they belong … genuine diversity and inclusion also includes people of faith.”

Mr Thorburn, who has supported the Bombers since childhood, had alleged he was wrongfully terminated after being forced to decide between the City on a Hill leadership and the Essendon position.

After resolving the claim, he said he wished the club well.

“The last few months have been difficult, yet it has also given me hope and strength,” he said. “This has come from the many people who have reached out to me and provided love, prayers and support through these challenging times.”

The statement issued by the club was important, he added, because it “affirms some key points of principle about genuine diversity and inclusion and respectful engagement”.

Mr Thorburn quit Essendon in October, just one day after being confirmed in the chief executive role, after it emerged the City on a Hill had preached negative views about homo­sexuality and abortion.

07/02/2019: NAB CEO Andrew Thorburn has resigned as a result of the Banking Royal Commission. Stuart McEvoy/The Australian.

While he distanced himself from those views, made before he held the church’s chairmanship, Mr Thorburn resigned after the club said he would need to choose ­between the two positions.

It was also revealed early this month that Mr Thorburn ­decided to step down as chairman of the church, along with all his other corporate engagements, ­effective from February next year.

In October, Essendon president Dave Barham said the club had acted swiftly to review revelations that the City on a Hill church posted a 2013 sermon to its website that said acting on same-sex ­attraction was “a sin”, and another ­likening abortion to concentration camps.

At the time, Essendon supporter and Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews attacked the views as appalling.

“I don’t support that kind of intolerance, that kind of hatred, bigotry. It is just wrong. To dress that up as anything other than bigotry is just obviously false,” he said.

Catholic archbishop Peter ­Comensoli said he could no longer remain an Essendon supporter because of the club’s ­actions.

“This situation sends a chilling message to ordinary faith believers in Victoria, that they can’t be trusted to exercise leadership and service in the community,” he said in a statement at the time. “I became a supporter of the Bombers on my first day ‘in the job’ here. But frankly, if Essendon can’t be inclusive and fair to supporters who hold a religious faith, maybe it’s time to find a new club.”

Essendon, in its joint statement with Mr Thorburn, said the businessman was “a person of integrity who treats others, whether at work or elsewhere, with dignity and respect”.

“He has a strong track record of leadership including with respect to diversity and inclusion of LGBTIQ and other minority groups.”

The club will make a donation to an ethics organisation, which will “prepare an independent paper on how sporting organisations can build inclusive communities recognising freedoms including those relating to race, religion and sexuality”.