More than 20 of Australia’s biggest sporting organisations have today come together in a landmark move to support a Voice to Parliament.
Current stars and former greats of a host of sports united in Sydney and Melbourne, along with CEOs and other leaders of sporting bodies in support of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.
Many of the sporting bodies have already individually affirmed their support for the Indigenous Voice to Parliament, but joined forces in a powerful coalition that encompasses Australia’s most popular codes and a combined tally of around 10 million participants.
The event, held on National Sorry Day, was brodcast live on Fox Sports and the Nine Network, and heralded the release of an open letter co-signed by the leaders of the sporting organisations.
The historic letter will be published in major newspapers around the country on Saturday 27 May.
The open letter, addressed to Australian sports fans, declared that sport is “a unifying force for our diverse Australian society”, and that “sport plays a significant role in reconciling Australia.”
The group affirmed: “We, as a collective, support recognition through a Voice,” and encouraged “all Australians who love sport to listen with an open heart and an open mind through this historic moment.”
The list of participating bodies includes those overseeing AFL, NRL, football, cricket, rugby, golf, netball, basketball, tennis, and boxing.
It also includes sports from taekwondo and badminton to triathlon and Deaf Sport Australia as well as Wheelchair Rugby League Australia.
It is a rare moment of unity between the various Australian sports, who last joined forces in 2021 to speak out against online bullying of athletes.
The list of legends lending their support to the Voice today, ahead of the referendum later this year was similarly expansive.
Sporting legends Mal Meninga (rugby league), Cath Cox (netball), Andrew Gaze (basketball) and Eddie Betts, Leigh Montagna, and Nathan Buckley (Aussie rules) are in attendance.
They were joined by Jason Gillespie (cricket), Jade North (football) Jamie Pittman (boxing), and Phil Waugh (rugby), plus the likes of former Olympians Carmen Marton (taekwondo) and David Hynes (baseball).
Current superstars including Alyssa Healy (cricket), Chloe Molloy and Phil Davis (AFL), Taniela Tupou and Angus Bell (rugby union), and Nathan Tang and Angela Yu (badminton), were also on hand in a rousing show of support.
Rugby league legend Mal Meninga on Friday voiced his passionate support for the campaign.
“I feel privileged,” he said.
“I think it’s a celebration and it’s a significant issue in Australian history.
“I can’t see anything wrong with it — listening to the voice of the First Nations people. Learning from them and learning from their past and taking action with them.
“This is not a case of doing this for them or on behalf of them. It’s about taking action with them and I think that’s generally how we operate in spot. You bring your team along with you. You act collectively to achieve success. I can see great benefit in it.
“If you know your history, this should have been done 100 years ago.”
Cricket Australia was the most recent major sport to announce its support, with chairman Mike Baird issuing a statement on Monday afternoon.
“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,” Mr 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.”
OPEN LETTER TO SPORTS FANS
“Dear Sports Fans of Australia,
We, the representatives of leading sport organisations in Australia, come together to make this statement to all Australians who love their sport:
Sport has always served as a unifying force for our diverse Australian society.
Regardless of where we come from or what we believe in, sport brings people together in the spirit of achievement, community and celebration.
Moreover, sport plays a significant role in reconciling Australia.
It has long been a means for the inclusion and celebration of the incredible achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
This year, all Australians will have their say in a referendum to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Constitution by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.
We, as a collective, support recognition through a Voice.
We believe our nation can achieve this profound recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the first peoples of our country, in our Constitution.
And that we should do that by ensuring Indigenous Australians have a meaningful say in shaping their own future.
We commit to using our platforms to lead conversations that promote respect, trust and goodwill between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
We commit to improving education and understanding among the Australians who play, administer and watch our sports.
We encourage all Australians who love sport to listen with an open heart and an open mind through this historic moment.
We respect that everyone is entitled to reach their own decision come the referendum.
Together we share a vision for the future as a nation that values equity, fairness and the rights of the Traditional Custodians of our land.
The land on which we play, love and celebrate sport in Australia.”
PARTICIPATING SPORTS
Australian Football League, Australian Taekwondo, Badminton Australia, Baseball Australia, Boxing Australia, Cricket Australia, Deaf Sport Australia, Football Australia, Golf Australia, PGA of Australia, Motorsport Australia, National Basketball League, National Rugby League, Netball Australia, No Limit Boxing, Rugby Australia, Sport Inclusion Australia, Tennis Australia, NRL Touch Football Australia, Triathlon Australia and Wheelchair Rugby League Australia
