Australia House backs down on press ‘ban’ from London Test fest

The government has executed a triple twisting backward somersault to allow Australian media to report on a high profile champagne function at Australia House in London.

Australian cricket captain Pat Cummins, left, and High Commissioner Stephen Smith at a reception for the team at Australia House in London in 2023.

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The Australian government has executed a triple twisting backward somersault to allow Australian media to report on a high profile champagne function at Australia House in London on Wednesday night (Thursday AEST) relaxing both an initial freeze out, and then a bizarre demand for a six hour delay in publication.

In a debacle surrounding what should have been a straight forward media event involving the men’s Australian cricket team, the Australian High Commission firstly banned Australian media outlets based in London reporting on the two hour soiree which was to feature a panel interview with three players including captain Pat Cummins.

The correspondents were told: “The event will include a panel discussion between members of the team and the BBC’s Alison Mitchell. Cricket Australia has an exclusive media partnership with the BBC for this event, so if you would like to come along it could only be in a personal capacity, not reporting”.

However Cricket Australia had a different view and said they were unaware that the panel discussion was in any way exclusive.

Sam Konstas and Usman Khawaja walk at a training session in Beckenham, England on Wednesday. Picture: Philip Brown/Getty Images

Insiders told The Australian that the BBC had organised with the High Commission to be able to film the question and answer component of the evening as part of an agreement to have Ms Mitchell host the panel discussion. The talk with three Australian cricketers was to be released as part of the BBC cricket podcast series.

“The event is hosted by the Australian High Commission and I don’t believe there is any restriction on reporting,’’ a Cricket Australia spokesperson said.

“We supplied the High Commission with a list of all touring Australian media to be invited and it is usual practice for the embassies to host the team: we have been to Pakistan embassy and the Australian High Commission in London regularly. It’s a common event to nurture these relationships with the government.”

After The Australian detailed how the Australian High Commission had brokered the “exclusivity deal” for the function with the BBC, effectively freezing out Australian journalists, the Commission then relaxed the rules but implemented an embargo.

On Wednesday afternoon local time Australian government staff said Australian journalists could cover the event, but must withhold reporting on the 5.30pm two hour function, until 11.59pm to allow “turnaround time”.

The BBC was not given any such time restraint, raising concerns about preferential media access at an event paid for by Australian taxpayers.

After another series of questions was sent to the High Commission, asking why an embargo was in place, the two tier approach was dropped. An hour before the event was due to start, journalists were told they could freely report without any restrictions.

But the Australian High Commission said they had been notified that a deal had been secured between Cricket Australia and the BBC and the exclusivity was nothing to do with the High Commission.

“Cricket Australia and the BBC had agreed on a media partnership to secure BBC coverage of this event, ” a High Commission spokesperson said.

“The BBC advised the Australian High Commission that an exclusivity arrangement was part of this agreement.

“Following consultations with Cricket Australia and the BBC by the Australian High Commission London, arrangements for exclusivity were changed to enable all Australian journalists to report on the event and attend in a professional capacity.”

Pat Cummins bowls during a training session on Wednesday. Picture: Philip Brown/Getty Images

The cricketers are in London ahead of the ICC World Test Championship final at Lords next week.

This is not the first time the Australian High Commission has been embroiled in controversial hospitality events. Back In January the Australian High Commissioner Stephen Smith initially gave his apologies to the swish Australia Day Gala black tie function at the Peninsula Hotel in central London organised and funded by the Britain-Australia Society but then reorganised his diary in order to attend following a huge outcry by expats.

The year earlier the Australian High Commission decided not to support the Australia Foundation’s proposed Australia Day Gala Dinner because of estimated costs of $55,000. The Department of Foreign Affairs said at the time that the High Commission determined that Australian taxpayers should no longer bear such a cost.

The cricket function was to be attended by the entire Australian team, and has attracted various British politicians and Australian business people based in the UK.