- Aussie cricketers will have access to counselling after referendum
- Given chance to vote in Chennai before ODI World Cup opener
- Pat Cummins has been accused of having a ‘woke’ agenda by fans
- Early polls suggest many Aussies will vote ‘No’ on local shores
Australia’s cricketers will be offered counselling services if the Indigenous Voice to Parliament isn’t voted in on local shores.
The likes of skipper Pat Cummins and David Warner voted last week at the Consulate-General office in Chennai ahead of the side’s World Cup opener in India.
It comes after Cricket Australia’s board and the Australian Cricketers’ Association publicly supported the Voice, whose enactment will be determined from Saturday’s referendum.
It also comes after former skipper Michael Clarke lashed the ‘laughable’ Aussie ODI side for meek surrenders to India and South Africa at the World Cup in India that has their tournament on life support.
Cummins has been previously accused of having a ‘woke’ agenda by fed up cricket fans, who don’t want to see sport and politics interconnected.
With early opinion polls suggesting many Aussies will vote ‘No’, it is believed the ACA told players on the subcontinent they will have access to counselling if the proposed changes are not widely endorsed.
Australia’s cricketers will be offered counselling services if the Indigenous Voice to Parliament isn’t voted in on local shores on Saturday (pictured, captain Pat Cummins)
All-rounder Ash Gardner, a proud Muruwari woman, urged the Australian public in September to be educated about the referendum before voting on October 14
All-rounder Ash Gardner, a Muruwari woman, urged the public in September to be educated on the referendum ahead of the vote.
Earlier in the year, Gardner also criticised a decision to schedule fixtures on Australia Day.
CA chair Mike Baird said his board were emphatically behind the ‘Yes’ campaign.
‘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,’ former NSW Premier Baird said in a statement.
‘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.
‘For its part, the Cricket Australia board supports the establishment of the Voice. In doing so, we acknowledge and respect that everyone is entitled to reach their own decision come the referendum.
‘We thank our National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cricket Advisory Committee, who we consult on issues impacting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, for their ongoing support and guidance on this matter.’
The player union released its own statement on the matter in August, the Daily Telegraph reported.
Early polls suggested many Aussies will vote ‘No’ on local shores for the referendum
‘Sport holds a unique place in Australian culture for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to give Voice to their rights,’ the ACA said.
‘The board and executive of the Australian Cricketers’ Association support the proposal to formalise a lasting and appropriate Voice for First Nations people through the referendum on the Voice to parliament.
‘In doing so, we acknowledge and respect that our members are able to reach their own decision come the referendum.
‘We encourage respectful and inclusive conversations across cricket and will continue to support our staff and members to better understand the histories and cultures of our First Nations people.’