Australian cricketers offered access to counselling should the Indigenous Voice to Parliament get voted down

Australian cricketers have been told they have access to counselling services should the Indigenous Voice to Parliament get voted down.

Australian cricketers have been told they have access to counselling services to deal with any disappointment they may feel should the Indigenous Voice to Parliament get voted down.

Both Cricket Australia’s board and the Australian Cricketers’ Association have publicly supported the Voice, whose enactment hinges on Saturday’s referendum.

But with opinion polls painting a bleak picture for the Yes vote, it’s understood the ACA on Friday wrote to past and present players to remind them that they had access to counselling in the event the proposed changes failed to be endorsed by the Australian public.

Players were also encouraged to make an informed vote and to respect that their fellow cricketers were entitled to make their own decisions.

Australia’s men’s team voted last week at the Consulate-General office in Chennai ahead of the side’s World Cup opener in India.

Superstar all-rounder Ash Gardner, a Muruwari woman, last month urged the public to educate itself on the matter ahead of the vote. She had earlier in the year criticised a decision to schedule Australian team matches on Australia Day.

Counselling has been offered to Aussie cricketers if the No vote gets up. Picture: Getty Images

Former Test paceman Jason Gillespie, a Kamilaroi man, is among those to have publicly advocated for the Yes vote.

Most major Australian sporting bodies have supported the addition of the Voice into the constitution.

CA chair Mike Baird, the former NSW Premier, said via a release in May that his board had backed the Yes campaign.

“The Cricket Australia board is proud of cricket’s powerful and unique history with First Nations people and in keeping with our continuing contribution to reconciliation, supports the recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Australian Constitution through the Voice,” Baird said.

“We encourage respectful and inclusive conversations across cricket to support our staff, players, volunteers and officials’ ongoing journey of education on First Nations histories and cultures and the proposal to formalise a lasting and appropriate Voice for First Nations people through the referendum.

“For its part, the Cricket Australia board supports the establishment of the Voice. In doing so, we acknowledge and respect that everyone is entitled to reach their own decision come the referendum.

Ash Gardner urged the public to educate itself on the Voice vote. Picture: Getty Images

“We thank our National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cricket Advisory Committee, who we consult on issues impacting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, for their ongoing support and guidance on this matter.”

The player union released its own statement in August.

“Sport holds a unique place in Australian culture for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to give Voice to their rights,” the ACA said.

“The board and executive of the Australian Cricketers’ Association support the proposal to formalise a lasting and appropriate Voice for First Nations people through the referendum on the Voice to parliament.

“In doing so, we acknowledge and respect that our members are able to reach their own decision come the referendum.

“We encourage respectful and inclusive conversations across cricket and will continue to support our staff and members to better understand the histories and cultures of our First Nations people.

“We thank our Reconciliation Plan Working Group for their guidance on this matter.”