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Legislative Council - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2015-07-29 Daily Xml
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Aboriginal Power Cup

The Hon. J.M. GAZZOLA (15:31): This is how you do it, Terry, to get an answer. My question is to the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation. Minister, will you inform the council of the significant contribution Mr Don McSweeney has made in relation to the Aboriginal Power Cup held earlier this month?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation, Minister for Automotive Transformation, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation) (15:31): I thank the honourable member for his important question, for his interest in this area, and in anticipation of him listening to the answer to the question.

It is with great sadness that I rise today to speak of the loss of one of South Australia's most dedicated and passionate supporters of football and, in particular, young Aboriginal footballers. The Aboriginal Lands Cup is an annual event that sees young Aboriginal footballers from the remote Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara lands and Maralinga Tjarutja communities compete ahead of a Port Adelaide Football Club match later on a particular evening. The game has been played every year since 2004 and was originally developed in partnership with state government, Jack Johncock and Don McSweeney.

In fact, the annual event is now named the Don McSweeney Aboriginal Lands Cup. Don was passionate about the Aboriginal Lands Cup, not just for the exceptional football skills on display by the young players, but also because the program had been expanded to include career and personal development activities for the players. I know that this year the players participated in the two-month Remote Jobs and Communities Program to build the players' job skills and employment opportunities.

I know Don was incredibly proud of what the Aboriginal Lands Cup had grown into, and when I attended the match on 9 July this year, Don was there beaming with pride on the night that the two teams played that entertaining match. After the game, the winner's cup was presented by Don to the APY team who, on this occasion, were convincing winners over the MT team.

Don understood that the Don McSweeney Aboriginal Lands Cup was so much more than just about football. Don McSweeney gave 65 years to football and was inducted into the SANFL Hall of Fame in 2011 in recognition of those on-field and off-field achievements. There simply isn't enough time today to list all of Don McSweeney's achievements, but I will give a small snapshot.

Don started playing football for Cummins Football Club in 1945 and was captain for four years, best and fairest twice. He became president of the club in 1965, coach in 1970 through to 1979, a life member of the club in 1975, SANFL life member in 2004, SANFL league director, life member of Port Adelaide Magpies in 1993, and inaugural life member of the Port Adelaide Football Club in 1996. He received the SANFL service award in 2003 and the Medal of the Order of Australia for his services to Australian Rules Football in 2009. There is so much more I could list: service awards, merit awards, and many, many other awards. The game of football, our community and Aboriginal players, in particular, are indebted to Don for all that he gave on and off the field.

On behalf of the South Australian government I pass on my deepest sympathies to Don's family and friends on his passing, and express my thanks for the outstanding contribution he made to football, the football community and, again, in particular, his role in developing, supporting and showcasing young Aboriginal footballers participating in the Don McSweeny Aboriginal Lands Cup.

Don understood the transforming influence that football could have on individuals who play the game, on supporters who love the game and on the wider community. He understood, like many others—including Commissioner Mick Gooda, when Commissioner Gooda spoke at the reconciliation breakfast last month—just how much Aussie Rules has had a leading role in bringing Aboriginal people together and changing community attitudes in terms of Aboriginal affairs, as well as the community's view of Aboriginal people. I think it is timely that we again see some of the unfortunate attitudes in football that Don spent so much time combating, and that we have come so far from.

In the last week and the last few months we have seen negative community attitudes unfortunately played out on the football field again, with the recent booing of Sydney Swans champion Adam Goodes. It has been more than 20 years since Nicky Winmar lifted his shirt and pointed to his skin, showing his supporters, the people at that game and in the wider community that he was Aboriginal and he was proud. Many of us embraced Nicky Winmar for his stand, and remember that moment because it did change attitudes and behaviour. Fast forward 20 years, and we have crowds booing a champion. Unfortunately many of us, including Adam Goodes, know that their boos have much to do with his Aboriginality.

I am saddened, disappointed and, quite frankly, angry at the treatment of this champion, whose main sin in the eyes of many seems to be his temerity in calling out racism and his pride in being part of the oldest living culture on this planet. Taking such a stand is often what is required to change attitudes, and it is an exceptionally brave stand that Adam has taken. His current treatment is, frankly, a disgrace. In years to come I think we will look back and be ashamed of how we have seen some of the worst parts of our collective selves being expressed at football grounds this year. We should be celebrating a champion like Adam Goodes, a proud Adnyamathanha and Narungga man, a South Australian, a former Australian of the Year, a man who gives back enormously through his community work with Indigenous youth and his football academy.

Over the last week, in particular, much has been written and much has been said on the air about Adam Goodes and his treatment, and much of it has been heartbreaking. I watched his mum speak this morning on TV, herself a member of the stolen generation, about just how heartbreaking she sees her son's treatment. One of the more telling things was Adam Goodes' good mate Michael O'Loughlin, who said, 'When my seven-year-old son asked why the crowd are booing uncle', that is Adam Goodes, Michael O'Loughlin's son's godfather, 'that's when it really hit home for me. James said has Adam done something wrong and I said no mate.' Now Michael does not take his kids to the games anymore.

I love taking my kids to football games. We have not seen a Swans game, but how would I explain that to my kids? How do I explain to my kids why the crowd is booing Adam Goodes every time he goes near the ball? Do I explain to my kids that it is because he stands up for what he believes in, he stands up for the ill-treatment and dispossession of Aboriginal people, for the attitudes over so many years? He is proud of his culture, and these are things we want to instil in our kids. Do we have to try to explain to them that this is partly why he is being vilified on the field?

I hope Adam Goodes plays on; I know it is very difficult for him, but I hope he plays on, that he continues to take a stand. What he does is important, but I can understand if he decides it is all too hard; I can understand that. I think that if, because of this, he does stop playing football we will need to have a good hard look at ourselves and at ourselves as a society.

As Aboriginal Affairs minister I am distressed at the treatment of this very proud Aboriginal man. As a fan of football and someone who loves taking his kids to footy I am embarrassed that our game has come to this. As an Australian I am disgusted that the attitudes of the minority are having such a profound impact on an individual and on us collectively.

Honourable members: Hear, hear!

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