Cricket Australia boss Nick Hockley has been grilled over the sporting body’s decision to ban the words “Australia Day” during Friday’s Test cricket match.
The organisation came under fire this week after it was announced there would be no references made to the national holiday during the Gabba Test match between Australia and the West Indies on Friday in Brisbane.
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It triggered debate across the sporting and political landscape with NSW Premier Chris Minns describing the decision as strange while Prime Minister Anthony Albanese urged the country to move past outrage culture
“We need to come together,” he told Sky News.
Speaking on 2GB radio station on Tuesday, Nick Hockley fronted questions from radio host Ben Fordham about the backlash.
Fordham repeatedly grilled the cricket boss before saying “it’s like saying you want people to celebrate Christmas but they can’t mention Santa Clause”.
After one lengthy pause Fordham probed: “Are you there Nick?”.
“I think I’ve explained our position,” Hockley replied
The chief executive said the organisation was not “boycotting” the national holiday but wanted to be “mindful” that the day meant different things to people.
“We are not in any way boycotting Australia Day, we’re just mindful in our communications that it means different things to different people,” he said.
“We appreciate that many Australians celebrate Australia Day and absolutely love watching the cricket on that day.”
Hockley went on to clarify that without attracting public attention, the organisation had quietly phased out references to the national holiday in its communications over the last five years.
The cricket boss said the organisation consulted extensively with their Indigenous advisory board, as well as Indigenous players both male and female, before coming to the decision to remove “Australia Day” from its communications.
“It is a difficult day for them,” he said.
“What we’ve done over the (recent years) is really to be respectful to everyone and make sure everyone feels absolutely welcome.”
When asked for a “yes or no” answer as to whether punters will hear the words “Australia Day” over the loudspeaker on Friday, Mr Hockley said “I don’t believe so”.
Indigenous cricket stars Ash Gardner and Scott Boland have both criticised the decision to play on January 26, describing it as a national day of mourning.
Australina fast bowling great Jason Gillespie backed a new date for Australia
“There is surely another day in the calendar that we can celebrate Australia Day,’’ Gillespie said.
“I find it frustrating when people say it’s always been January 26 when history clearly shows it simply has not.
“We’ve had a number of different days as Australia Day over the journey.
“I don’t understand why people are so hung up on January 26 when it clearly is a day that First Nations people find difficult to get around and be positive about.”
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