Wednesday, 10 September 2025

Australian Football League

Rachel PAYNE (South-Eastern Metropolitan) (18:37): (1947) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events, and the action I seek is for the minister to take meaningful steps to stamp out the AFL’s homophobic culture. The AFL recently made history, finally losing its title as the only major professional men’s sport anywhere in the world to have never had an openly gay or bisexual player, even after retirement. It only took 128 years. I want to acknowledge and commend the immense bravery of former West Coast Eagles defender Mitch Brown, who has come out as the first current or former openly bisexual male player in AFL history. Mitch stayed silent out of fear, citing a culture of homophobia and hypermasculinity that played a big part in his decision to retire. In one story he shared, he talked about how a fellow player was disgusted at the idea of showering around a gay player and said he would prefer to be in a cage full of lions.

While this is a moment to celebrate Mitch, it is not a moment to celebrate the AFL. In the last year and a half alone, there have been six publicised incidents of homophobia within the AFL. Behind closed doors there would be many more. There is a deeply ingrained culture of homophobia in the AFL, and the reality is Mitch is not alone. Around 3.6 per cent of the population and one in 10 20- to 24-year-olds report a sexuality other than heterosexuality. The actual percentage is likely to be even higher. This means there are hundreds if not thousands of current and former AFL players who are not straight but who remain closeted out of fear. The AFL is Victoria’s sport. It is absolutely unacceptable that this is not a safe space for LGBTIQA+ people. Until the AFL’s homophobic culture is ripped out by the root and players stop getting a slap on the wrist for using slurs, nothing will change. In the AFLW, there is a proudly large number of players who are part of the LGBTIQA+ community, but spectator culture remains an issue. When Tyabb women’s football team’s Kate McCallum proposed to her partner Bec Strickland on the field, the announcement was met with a tidal wave of homophobic hate on social media. Hate is not funny. It keeps people in the closet and it puts lives at risk, so I ask: will the minister take meaningful steps to stamp out the AFL’s homophobic culture?