Tony Abbott: Hypocrisy and Self-Interest
- Sep 28, 2017
- 3 min read
“Footy fans shouldn’t be subjected to a politicised Grand Final,” tweeted Tony Abbott on Wednesday. “Sport is sport.”
And so the sacrosanct tribal traditionalism of sport has become the latest red herring on the former Prime Minister’s tireless campaign against marriage equality. Once and for all, Tony Abbott has proven that his failings as a politician stem from hypocrisy and self-interest.
Abbott was arguing that US rapper Macklemore should not be allowed to play his gay pride anthem ‘Same Love’ when he performs as the pre-match entertainment before the NRL Grand Final between Melbourne and North Queensland on Sunday.
The Liberal back-bencher expanded on his stance in a change.org petition, pointing out that the broadcast of the song would make the Grand Final “very difficult to watch”.
“My family and many other loyal NRL fans, who are No voters, will not feel comfortable watching the Grand Final when the NRL is imposing such a bold political stance on its fans while the issue is currently being voted on by the Australian people,” writes Abbott.
Arguing that sport should be treated as an escapism from the landscape in which it exists is a whitewashing of the special place sport has in our culture. The popularity and commitment Australians hold to our teams and sports have allowed socially progressive causes a powerful vehicle. Consider the AFL’s ANZAC Round, a widespread cause for national pride, a solemn reminder of those who gave their lives for our country and a fundraiser for today’s war veterans.
You don’t even need to look at coordinated awareness raising to realise what sport can do for Australians when it intertwines with broader society. Remember that glorious moment when an ecstatic Bob Hawke declared on live television that “any boss who sacks anyone for not turning up today is a bum” after Australia’s America’s Cup win in 1983? Or Sydney’s Channel Nine newsroom delaying its six o’clock broadcast half an hour so viewers could see Steve Waugh make his legendary last-ball-of-the-day century at the SCG in January 2003?
The anti-politicisation of sport is the latest card Abbott has played after campaigning that the legalisation of same sex marriage is an affront to freedom of speech and freedom of religion. Quite how he thinks he can get away with calling for a singer to quite literally be silenced while arguing that the arguments of his own side are being shouted down and ignored by the media, the public and the mean old rainbow fascists is really an achievement.
The job entrusted to the politician is to work for the good of the country and its people. Abbott treats his seat and influence as a chance to sculpt the country according to his personal beliefs and damn the rest of the shooting match. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has urged Australians to be “civil and reasonable” when arguing for either side in the plebiscite but Abbott has defied the example set by the leader of his party by campaigning in a manner unmatched by any MP, be they voting yes or no.
The most amazing description of Abbott’s time in power I ever read came from author Don Watson, who in the August 2015 edition of The Monthly described his Government as “coherent only in its fears”. Now, even Tony Abbott’s fear-mongering doesn’t make sense. It has been rendered incomprehensible by his own hypocrisy and self-interest.
Comments