Jeff Kennett apologises for ‘new arrivals’ comment on AFL security

Hawthorn president forced to apologise for comments regarding security after Gillon McLachlan accused him of racial stereotyping.

There has been tension between Jeff Kennett and Gillon McLachlan over the AFL crowd behaviour issue. Picture: Luke Bowden/AAP

Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett has apologised after being accused of racially stereotyping the security staff embroiled in intimidatory behaviour towards fans at Marvel Stadium.

The retraction followed several conversations with AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan, who made clear to the former Victorian premier his displeasure at the wording he used when trying to describe why some staff were unsuited to the role they had been tasked with.

This morning I spoke to Gill McLachlan about my comments yesterday 're a Behavioural Awareness Officer at Marvel Stadium at Friday night's game. I expressed my regret at using some of the words I did and apologise for doing so.

— Jeff Kennett (@jeff_kennett) June 18, 2019

“This morning I spoke to Gill McLachlan about my comments yesterday re: a Behavioural Awareness Officer at Marvel Stadium at Friday night’s game,” he said.

“I expressed my regret at using some of the words I did and apologise for doing so.”

McLachlan, who expressed regret for the fact fans felt intimidated by security at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium last weekend, said the Hawthorn president was wrong to use the description he did.

“I am giving the view of the AFL which is that it is unacceptable,” he said.

“I don’t agree with what Jeff said and I know he regrets making those comments and I couldn’t be clearer about that.

“I am very disappointed. It is just unacceptable to be making comments that don’t reflect a person’s ability but speak to their background.

“I have had a number of conversations with him this afternoon. He regrets that and he knows the offence that it has caused.”

The backdown from Kennett is surprising in a sense given he has repeatedly defended his commentary on the role to various media outlets, including a strident interview as recently as this morning.

“Did I go too far? Some of you may have thought so, but I am certainly not backing away from it at all,” Kennett said on SEN.

“I am not going to be driven into the ground by some sort of political correctness.

“Most of our security people now are people who are more recent entrants to the country. Now I am not opposed to that at all.

“Please don’t drive me into the bloody ground. My stance on immigration is very public. I have always been about multiculturalism. I was the first to attack (One Nation Party leader) Pauline Hanson about her comments about the Asian threat, so I am not going to change my views at all.

“I am expressing what I saw and what I believe has occurred.

“I think it was wrong, I think (AFL boss) Gill (McLachlan) is going to correct it and for that, I am grateful.”

Despite the comments transgressing the AFL’s Racial Vilification Policy, Mclachlan indicated that no sanction would be applied to Kennett at this stage.

He said a complaint would be required for the AFL to act, based on the framework of the code.

‘Our fan philosophy has not changed’

McLachlan again denied ordering a greater security focus on crowd behaviour but concedes fans believe otherwise.

“It’s devastating to think that our fans think something has changed to limit their enjoyment at the footy,” he said. “Our philosophy on this has not changed: we want our fans to come to the footy and be themselves and feel safe in barracking.

“Our supporters should never feel that security staff are there for any other reason than to ensure a safe day at the footy.” Marvel Stadium management have said they went too far with a heightened level of security at games at the venue at the weekend.

“There is a view in the last week or so the measures that have been taken are too dramatic,” McLachlan said.

“I don’t want to apportion blame … some of the measures have meant that people have felt uncomfortable.”

With AAP