From the statement, any AFL pursuit of the HFC would relate to:
All other clubs put on notice, including the EFC National Aboriginal and TSI Advisory Council, with representatives from all over Australia.
IIRC, Jackson, who has good contacts in indigenous sport, sought interviews after he was alerted to the issues. He also gave Clarkson and co the opportunity to respond (not taken up).
None of his article involved leaks, as made clear by Jackson and the ABC. None of those interviewed in the report were bound by confidentiality.
Jackson is on the record in calling out McGuireâs comments on his article as an attempt to smear his reputation
For the commercial media to have published it first, it would have been called an exclusive scoop.
I actually think the AFL is in between a rock and a hard place even if they believed the complainants.
Doesnt excuse them from protecting individuals from punishment.
If the allegations are true but not possible to determine if racially motivated then Clarkson and co should still have been punished along with Hawthorn.
Thatâs my question. Was he alerted by the families coming to him, in which case no âleak,â and imo no cause for the afl to sanction HFC on the previously mentioned conducting the report/leaking grounds, or was he alerted by someone else at HFC/afl, in which case there might be cause for some discipline (a lot of employees at companies arenât supposed to talk to the media without approval.)
Ie Race is being used almost as an excuse disgraceful behaviour.
Even without a racist lense the allegations are abhorrent.
So that distinction should at the very least be made clear.
A. Are the allegations of abuse substantiated?
B. Are they racially motivated?
Even if B is disproven it doesnt give you a free pass on A.
Burt as a welfare officer seems to think so with his statement that two of the complaintants âarent aboriginalâ. I mean as if that should actually matter?
There was nothing to stop the AFL stating they identified serious and disturbing issues but did not have the authority or capacity to investigate beyond that.
That would have been a very different outcome.
If there has been abuse across all of the player group, not just the First Nations people contacted as part of this original and nominally unrelated investigation, I wouldnât be saying thatâs much betterâŚ
It wouldnât be a leak to know that a report had been undertaken, then to contact indigenous players at the time and to invite them to be interviewed
The report was commissioned by the club, presumably with the Boardâs knowledge (following media reports of Rioliâs disenchantment and walking away from the club, together with Michael Longâs comments). The Riolis were the tip of the iceberg. Kennett had his fingers all over the decision to commission a report.
Jacksonâs article wasnât the first airing of problems at the club and of perceptions of Clarksonâs attitude. It was aired in the MSM well before then.
Perhaps he should go back and get his level three coaching accreditation again.
It is worse than being anonymous, it is being threatened into a form self censure. For the players involved it would feel like they are being persecuted all over again. Fark Fagan, trying to bully his way into their submission and silence.
Tohme Browen
Not sure if this has been postedâŚ(sorry, if it already has)
First Nations families at centre of Hawthorn racism saga lodged proceedings in the Australian Human Rights Commission
The four First Nations families at the centre of the Hawthorn racism saga have officially lodged proceedings in the Australian Human Rights Commission.
less than 2 min read
June 2, 2023 - 5:08PM
News Corp Australia Sports Newsroom
AFL: Brett Ratten says thereâs been no chat between North Melbourne and Alastair Clarkson regarding his return to the club following the conclusion of the Hawks racism scandal
The four First Nations families at the centre of the Hawthorn racism saga have officially lodged proceedings in the Australian Human Rights Commission.
Three days after Gillon McLachlan announced the AFL had closed its independent investigation panel into historic claims of racism at Hawthorn, the familiesâ lawyer Leon Zwier came good on a promise to continue the fight.
The claim is part of a formal process that could eventually see the proceedings head to Federal Court.
Two other families, which did not take part in the AFL process, are exploring separate civil claims.
Justin Quill, partner at major law firm Thomson Geer, said the Human Rights Commission would be an opportunity for conciliation between the parties.
But Quill said the body did not make binding decisions and doesnât impose penalties or punishments.
âThe Human Rights Commission doesnât make enforceable decisions. They canât order Alastair Clarkson to apologise or pay damages. They canât order Chris Fagan to not coach or to undertake training. There are no penalties or binding orders made by the Human Rights Commission,â he said.
âReally it is an opportunity for the parties to come together and perhaps resolve this issue.
âIf not then the applicant has the opportunity to take action in whatever forum they want.
âBut there are no binding findings that will impact the parties. Having said that it is an opportunity to bring the parties together and given that hasnât happened to date, that might be beneficial.â
Quill said if a party wanted to bring a claim to court under the Racial Discrimination Act, they must first go to the Human Rights Commission.
Howâs that a twist?
Theyâre no longer âanonymousâ.
At least thatâs how I read itâŚ
Not really a twist though is it?
Yes it is. Theyâve wanted to remain anonymous this whole time, Fagan raised them with the lawyer blackmail letter.
Theyâve reraised him and said âFck you, on our own termsâ
