Rugby Australia confirms its support for an Indigenous voice to parliament, joining other major sports codes in support of yes vote

Rugby Australia is the latest sporting code to back the Indigenous voice to parliament, joining a growing list of elite sports pushing for a yes vote.

Rugby Australia chief Hamish McLennan. Picture: Tim Hunter.

Rugby Australia is the latest major sporting code to back the Indigenous voice to parliament, joining a growing list of elite sports pushing for a yes vote in this year’s referendum.

Rugby Australia took out full page advertisements - endorsed by the board - overseen by its chairman Hamish McLennan on why the code unanimously supported the ‘yes’ vote.

It’s understood RA powerbrokers have been approached by numerous stakeholders for the code’s position and the board unanimously supported the strident statement supporting the voice.

RA leaders have been working on its message on the voice statement for months.

An RA source said the RA board was not telling people how to vote but making clear where they stand as a code.

In the detailed statement RA said supporting the voice was about union not “division”.

“What business does a sporting body have, you might ask, making political statements? And what qualifies rugby, of all sports, to talk about unification?” reads the statement.

“We are, after all, one of four footy codes in Australia. Four codes which compete fiercely for audiences, funding, even players. We’ve rarely spoken in unison in the past. And the Rugby Australia Board certainly doesn’t claim to speak for anyone else now. But the proposed referendum on the Voice to Parliament is too important a contest to watch in silence. And we know we aren’t the only sports body which believes the aims of the referendum transcend any rivalries.”

“Because whatever pollies and pundits say, what it comes down to is a principle ordinary Australians already apply, every day, in every aspect of their lives. A level playing field.”

The Rugby Australia statement continued to cite the many reasons why they were backing in a voice to parliament.

“That’s what we abandoned the White Australia Policy for in the 1950s,” it reads. “That’s what our parents and grandparents voted for when they confirmed the democratic rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in 1967.

“And that’s why we stood against apartheid South Africa, with Nelson Mandela awarding six Wallabies the Medal of Freedom for their leadership of the protests. The ’67 referendum was the most successful in our history, with the Constitutional amendments proposed endorsed by more than 90% of the population.”

“But as proud as that should make us, it’s only one milestone in a continuing journey.

Half a century later, too many First Nations communities are still plagued by social and economic inequality.”

The RA statement says too many “Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are still trapped in a cycle of disadvantage”.

“For a fortunate few, elite sport has always provided an off-ramp,” it reads.

“The year that saw the first Aboriginal person elected to Federal Parliament was the same year Evonne Goolagong won the first of her seven grand slam titles.

“At the 2000 Olympics, Cathy Freeman won a race which stopped a nation more effectively than any Melbourne Cup.

“And it was the brilliance of three Ella brothers which helped put Australian rugby in the top international tier.”

Rugby Australia believes that this referendum could “engender” more national pride than any sporting achievement.

“And it gives each and every one of us the chance to make Australian history,” the RA statement says.

“Despite what you might have read, you don’t need a Constitutional Law degree to make an informed decision about the vote you cast.

“We’re sure that, like us, you don’t support a ‘third chamber of government’, or adding other complexities and costs which obstruct government acting in the best interests of all of us.

“The bottom line is that our Constitution still doesn’t recognise the First Peoples of Australia or give them the voice they deserve. The playing field could still be more level.

If we’re ever going to achieve true union as a nation, we must take every opportunity we have to close the gap which still separates so many of us.

Provision for an Indigenous Voice to Parliament in our Constitution is long overdue.

Let’s get it over the line.”

RA follow the NRL and the Australian Olympic Committe who have already thrown their support behind the voice to parliament.

The AFL are expected to announce their position on the voice soon.

On Tuesday the AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan says the league must take a stance on the Indigenous voice to parliament because it is a “community organisation”.

The RA statement follows the Brumbies chairman Matt Nobbs apology for his board’s statement on the voice early on Tuesday.

Late on Tuesday, Mr Nobbs released an apology statement after he publicly said the Brumbies board had taken the unanimous view that the club should not take a position on the voice and hoped Rugby Australia would do the same.

The Super Rugby club chair said he should not have made the comments without consulting the players and the club’s Indigenous cultural advisory group on the issue of constitutional recognition for Indigenous Australians.

“I want to make it clear that this is our position as the ­Brumbies’ board of directors, and not that of Rugby Australia,” Mr Nobbs said.