The AFL has been accused of being ‘an arm for the Labor Party’ by former Victorian premier Jeff Kennett after asking for the removal of an Instagram post.
Victorian Liberal leader Jess Wilson uploaded a short video at the MCG during the Collingwood vs St Kilda match last week highlighting how many meat pies from the ground could be bought with the $15billion allegedly stolen from taxpayers in CFMEU rorts.
Wilson claims that under Premier Jacinta Allan, at least $15billion of taxpayer money has been lost to corruption on Victorian major projects.
‘Remember that $15billion that Labor gave to the CFMEU and into the pockets of criminals? Well, it could have bought 2.4billion pies at the footy, or enough pies to feed this crowd at 29,000 games,’ Wilson said in her Instagram video.
AFL government relations manager Bec Smith contacted Wilson, demanding the video be taken down because it contained two seconds of footage from the game which violated the league’s copyright rules.
The AFL’s policy is that a person cannot make any recording or take any photograph for any purpose other than private non-commercial purposes.
The AFL asked Victorian Liberal leader Jess Wilson (pictured) to delete a short video she shot at the MCG during the Collingwood-St Kilda match last week
The AFL wanted the video taken down over a copyright issue (pictured, AFL CEO Andrew Dillon)
Pictured: The two-second vision the AFL argued was in breach of its rules
Smith’s boss is AFL corporate affairs executive general manager Sharon McCrohan, who has done media work for the ALP and CFMEU.
A senior opposition figure told the Herald Sun the request to remove the post was ‘a pathetic attempt by McCrohan’s team to stop Wilson shining a light on $15 billion of CFMEU corruption’.
‘Clearly, the CFMEU is like Hotel California – you can check out any time you like but you can never leave – even after you’ve checked in to AFL House,’ the opposition figure said.
The AFL said on Sunday that McCrohan had no involvement in the decision to ask Wilson to remove the post.
AFL spokesperson Jay Allan said McCrohan did not authorise the request to remove the vision and was unaware of it.
Former Victorian Premier Jeff Kennett lashed the AFL in a social media post in which he accused it of being ‘an arm of the Australian Labor Party’.
‘Banning a post by Jess Wilson while allowing one by Jacinta Allan is only further proof. The AFL accepts public monies they should be politically neutral. And Commission do nothing,’ Kennett wrote.
Kennett’s X post was referencing Premier Jacinta Allan, who posted her own 30-second Instagram clip from the opening bounce of the 2024 AFL grand final without the AFL asking for its removal under the copyright rules.
Former Victoria Premier Jeff Kennett lashed the AFL in a social media post on X
Wilson explained how many pies could be bought for $15billion in the video (pictured)
Smith was a senior adviser to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during his time as Opposition Leader.
She sent Wilson an email saying: ‘Regarding the use of match vision, footage in the crowd is fine but approval needs to be sought for using any match vision.’
Wilson has no intention of removing the post, telling reporters she would not be silenced.
‘It was absolutely ridiculous to receive the request from the AFL,’ Wilson said.
‘I won’t be intimidated by any organisation, whether that’s the AFL, whether that’s the Labor Party, whether that’s the CFMEU, or organised crime.
‘I will always continue to shine a light on the $15 billion of taxpayer money that’s gone into the pockets of criminals in this state under Jacinta Allan’s watch.’
Aussies online mostly supported Wilson’s video and slammed the AFL for its double standards.
‘I heard the AFL tried to take this post down because the footage violated the AFL’s copyright. Good on you Jess for keeping it up,’ one person wrote.
‘The AFL is little more than a propaganda machine these days. Sad situation when the on-field game itself, doesn’t seem to be their top priority,’ another said.
