Calls to defy order and fly Indigenous flag with pride
AFL executive Tanya Hosch says the league is fully behind the Free the Flag campaign.
AFL executive Tanya Hosch says the league is in discussions with the Federal Government about freeing the Aboriginal flag and she fully supports fans bringing the emblem to Indigenous Round matches this weekend.
The league’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Council has advised it to not display the flag in the centre circle and on guernseys during the Sir Doug Nicholls Round, amid a dispute with WAM Clothing, which holds the worldwide licence for the flag’s use.
Essendon great Michael Long this week called on fans to fill Darwin’s TIO Stadium with the iconic red, black and yellow flag for the Gold Coast-Carlton game and Essendon-Richmond Dreamtime match in a protest to the “totally outrageous” copyright ban.
Hosch, the AFL’s social inclusion and policy general manager, said she would be happy to see flags in the crowd and the league was backing a national campaign to resolve the issue.
“This is a round where we celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities and contributions to football, and we know the flag is an important emblem,” said Hosch, who is of Torres Strait Islander heritage.
“The AFL has communicated with the Federal Government on this matter and definitely support the resolution of the issue, and support the position of the Free the Flag campaign.
“We stand in unity with Aboriginal people and other Australians who really want to see free access to the flag.’’
WAM Clothing purchased the copyright licence to the Aboriginal flag design in 2018 and now charges commercial fees for its use.
Hosch said the AFL’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Council had recommended the league not enter into a licence agreement over use of the flag.
Hosch said the racial vilification Sydney’s Elijah Taylor has been subjected to this week on the back of that directed at Eddie Betts and Liam Ryan was disturbing. She admitted the AFL did not do enough to support Adam Goodes as he dealt with “extraordinary degrees of racism”. She said the league was pushing the Federal Government to expand the eSafety commissioner’s powers so it could get tough on online racism and sexism.
“This is incredibly harmful material to all players and no one should have to tolerate discrimination or racism by virtue of doing their job,’’ Hosch said. “Unless they’re a member of the AFL or a football club, unfortunately, we don’t have the jurisdiction to do anything other than take the steps we’re taking.”
Meanwhile unions have accused the AFL of enforcing “gag” orders on stood-down league staff as hundreds are set to lose their jobs. League supremo Gillon McLachlan will address the AFL’s full workforce via video link at 10am on Monday before staff are advised individually about their future employment prospects.
About 80 per cent of the AFL’s workers have been stood down without pay since late March.
Dozens have signed with the United Services Union in Sydney and the Australian Services Union in Melbourne, which yesterday threatened to “seek remedy through the Fair Work Commission” claiming it had been excluded from the consultation process.
In a letter to AFL general manager of people Sarah Fair, the ASU claimed the league had implemented a policy change “which occurred without consultation, where the AFL reduced the maximum redundancy entitlement from 52 weeks down to 26 weeks”.
Herald Sun
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