Queensland Cricketers’ Club rejects Jewish event over controversy concerns
The Australian Jewish Association has been denied from hosting an event at the Queensland Cricketers’ Club over concerns it could be ‘controversial or insensitive’.
The Queensland Cricketers’ Club has blocked a request by the Australian Jewish Association to host a speaking event with an outspoken British commentator over concerns that it may be seen as “controversial or insensitive” to stakeholders and players.
The AJA approached the club, which operates out of Brisbane’s Gabba stadium, last week in hopes of securing a room to upgrade its sellout evening with journalist, broadcaster and commentator Melanie Phillips, scheduled to take place on Thursday.
The speaking tour titled “How to Combat Anti-Semitism and Defend Western Civilisation” coincides with the release of her new book examining the challenges facing Christianity and Judaism in the Western world.
The events manager of the QCC declined the request for a room at the Gabba or the organisation’s sister venue at the Allan Border Field at nearby Albion, telling organisers it would be inappropriate to be linked to Phillips in light of the Israel-Hamas war.
“Unfortunately, we would not be able to secure the booking for this particular event as we are a non-political-based organisation who works closely with many multi-nation sporting associations,” she said.
“So we would not be in a position to host this event as it may be perceived as controversial or insensitive to our stakeholders.
“As we operate many venues around Brisbane on behalf of different sporting associations, we would hate to inflict any bad press or negative media attention on our business partner, especially given the nature of their sport.
“With some influential members of the team having voiced strong stances on the overseas conflict previously, it would not be an (sic) appropriate to be linked to hosting this particular guest speaker.”
Star Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja, has been vocal in his support of Gaza. He was banned by the sport’s governing body, the International Cricket Council, from wearing a pair of shoes with the messages “All lives are equal” and “Freedom is a human right” in the colours of the Palestinian flag during training sessions ahead of the first test against Pakistan in 2023.
This week, the opening batsman came out swinging in defence of sports commentator Peter Lalor’s sacking over pro-Palestine social media posts.
AJA chief executive Robert Gregory said he was shocked by the club’s response, labelling it “cowardly”.
“It’s political correctness gone mad,” he said. “Melanie Phillips is a mainstream, well-respected speaker. The topic is combating anti-Semitism. If that’s controversial to some of the stakeholders, then I would suggest perhaps that’s an issue with some of the stakeholders.
“I would really hope that the QCC is not appeasing certain groups or people and hope that’s not playing into their decision because it really shouldn’t. This is an event that makes no mention of conflict in the Middle East. It’s an event about anti-Semitism, about Western civilisation.”
Chief executive of QCC Group Lachlan Furnell is overseas and did not respond to questions from The Australian before deadline.
Mr Gregory said the event would go ahead at the original smaller venue, the location of which has been disclosed only to ticket holders.
Queensland MP for Oodgeroo Amanda Stoker is slated to give the opening remarks of the evening with Phillips, who is a regular commentator for the Times of London and has been published in the Guardian, Sunday Times and Daily Mail.
The QCC has previously hosted several political events and fundraisers, including a 15-year celebration of former Labor prime minister Kevin Rudd’s 2007 victory, and a 2021 event to commemorate the 30-year anniversary of Jim Soorley’s elevation to Brisbane’s lord mayor.
Renewable energy opponents putting lives at risk: Bandt
Adam Bandt has lashed the food distributors of Australia for questioning Labor’s renewable energy strategy and claimed they are ‘putting Australian lives at threat by backing more coal and gas’.
Warrant accuses caravan bomb suspects of terror
The trio previously claimed by police to be on the ‘periphery’ of a caravan attack on Jewish targets are accused on a search warrant of planning and preparing acts of terrorism, as a relative of one of the accused claims his brother is “innocent”.