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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/oct/24/labor-suggested-shaquille-oneal-praise-cathy-freeman-when-promoting-voice-to-parliament
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| Labor suggested Shaquille O’Neal praise Cathy Freeman when promoting voice to parliament | Labor suggested Shaquille O’Neal praise Cathy Freeman when promoting voice to parliament |
| (3 months later) | |
| Exclusive: Linda Burney’s office suggested basketballer might mention ‘amazing hospitality’ of Indigenous Australians in August press conference | Exclusive: Linda Burney’s office suggested basketballer might mention ‘amazing hospitality’ of Indigenous Australians in August press conference |
| The government suggested the American basketball star Shaquille O’Neal should praise Cathy Freeman and ask Australians to talk at their sporting clubs about the Indigenous voice to parliament during his August press conference with Anthony Albanese, new documents obtained under freedom of information reveal. | The government suggested the American basketball star Shaquille O’Neal should praise Cathy Freeman and ask Australians to talk at their sporting clubs about the Indigenous voice to parliament during his August press conference with Anthony Albanese, new documents obtained under freedom of information reveal. |
| But large amounts of internal correspondence about the meeting have been kept secret by the prime minister’s department on the grounds that it was organised by Albanese’s local electorate office, not his ministerial office. | But large amounts of internal correspondence about the meeting have been kept secret by the prime minister’s department on the grounds that it was organised by Albanese’s local electorate office, not his ministerial office. |
| “I love Indigenous Australians. Their culture and their amazing hospitality,” the office of the Indigenous affairs minister, Linda Burney, wrote in suggested remarks prepared for O’Neal. | “I love Indigenous Australians. Their culture and their amazing hospitality,” the office of the Indigenous affairs minister, Linda Burney, wrote in suggested remarks prepared for O’Neal. |
| The Los Angeles Lakers star and betting agency spokesperson visited Australia on a speaking tour in August, and joined Albanese and Burney during a memorable but brief press conference in Sydney on 27 August. The unlikely trio had met to discuss the proposed voice to parliament, after a request from O’Neal. | The Los Angeles Lakers star and betting agency spokesperson visited Australia on a speaking tour in August, and joined Albanese and Burney during a memorable but brief press conference in Sydney on 27 August. The unlikely trio had met to discuss the proposed voice to parliament, after a request from O’Neal. |
| The government plans to use sports stars to promote the voice referendum. At the press conference, Albanese had been explaining the strategy when O’Neal entered the room, seemingly unexpectedly to the prime minister. | The government plans to use sports stars to promote the voice referendum. At the press conference, Albanese had been explaining the strategy when O’Neal entered the room, seemingly unexpectedly to the prime minister. |
| In emails released to Guardian Australia under freedom of information, members of the prime minister’s office say O’Neal’s team had requested talking points for his appearance. | In emails released to Guardian Australia under freedom of information, members of the prime minister’s office say O’Neal’s team had requested talking points for his appearance. |
| “Shaq wants to promote the Uluru statement from the heart and had previously arranged to do an event with Linda before inviting the PM,” a member of Albanese’s office wrote in an email on 15 August. “Shaq would like to say a few sentences in support of the Uluru statement if we can provide them.” | “Shaq wants to promote the Uluru statement from the heart and had previously arranged to do an event with Linda before inviting the PM,” a member of Albanese’s office wrote in an email on 15 August. “Shaq would like to say a few sentences in support of the Uluru statement if we can provide them.” |
| The recipient of the email is redacted. On 24 August, Albanese’s office wrote to members of the PM’s office to again request “lines”. | The recipient of the email is redacted. On 24 August, Albanese’s office wrote to members of the PM’s office to again request “lines”. |
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| “Sorry to keep bothering on this issue but Shaq’s team have called again about the lines as they’re about to get on a plane to Melbourne to meet with him,” they wrote. “Is there anything available I can send to them?” | “Sorry to keep bothering on this issue but Shaq’s team have called again about the lines as they’re about to get on a plane to Melbourne to meet with him,” they wrote. “Is there anything available I can send to them?” |
| Another government staffer, from Burney’s office, responded an hour later. | Another government staffer, from Burney’s office, responded an hour later. |
| “Thanks – not 100% sure what is required. But I’ve drafted a short script for Shaq (attached) about the voice”. | “Thanks – not 100% sure what is required. But I’ve drafted a short script for Shaq (attached) about the voice”. |
| That “short script” suggested O’Neal could tell the press conference “I love Indigenous Australians” and that Aboriginal athletes such as Freeman and basketballer Paddy Mills had “given sports fans like me so much over the years”. | That “short script” suggested O’Neal could tell the press conference “I love Indigenous Australians” and that Aboriginal athletes such as Freeman and basketballer Paddy Mills had “given sports fans like me so much over the years”. |
| “The Uluru statement is a chance for all Australians to work with First Nations people to create a better future,” the government staffer suggested O’Neal could say, echoing Labor’s election slogan of “a better future”. | “The Uluru statement is a chance for all Australians to work with First Nations people to create a better future,” the government staffer suggested O’Neal could say, echoing Labor’s election slogan of “a better future”. |
| “I am calling on all Australians to support a voice to parliament enshrined in the constitution … I need you to lead conversations in your own community, through your basketball clubs, workplaces, schools and round family dinner tables.” | “I am calling on all Australians to support a voice to parliament enshrined in the constitution … I need you to lead conversations in your own community, through your basketball clubs, workplaces, schools and round family dinner tables.” |
| At the press conference, O’Neal did not say any of the lines prepared. | At the press conference, O’Neal did not say any of the lines prepared. |
| “Hello Australia, nice to see you. I’m here in your country – if there is anything you need from me, let me know,” he said, after walking into the press conference as Albanese was mid-sentence. | “Hello Australia, nice to see you. I’m here in your country – if there is anything you need from me, let me know,” he said, after walking into the press conference as Albanese was mid-sentence. |
| “Congratulations to you guys. And I want you to know: Shaq loves Australia. All right?” O’Neal continued. | “Congratulations to you guys. And I want you to know: Shaq loves Australia. All right?” O’Neal continued. |
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| Albanese replied: “Awesome.” | Albanese replied: “Awesome.” |
| O’Neal said: “All right, I’ll see you soon. I need that government clearance too,” before leaving the room. | O’Neal said: “All right, I’ll see you soon. I need that government clearance too,” before leaving the room. |
| A senior lawyer in the prime minister’s office, the decision-maker in the FOI request, said in her decision letter the meeting was requested by O’Neal and coordinated by Albanese’s electorate office, not his ministerial office, and that the department was not involved in providing briefings or assistance. | A senior lawyer in the prime minister’s office, the decision-maker in the FOI request, said in her decision letter the meeting was requested by O’Neal and coordinated by Albanese’s electorate office, not his ministerial office, and that the department was not involved in providing briefings or assistance. |
| Only a small number of emails were released under FOI, as only ministerial offices and departments – not electorate offices – are subject to FOI. | Only a small number of emails were released under FOI, as only ministerial offices and departments – not electorate offices – are subject to FOI. |
| Large slabs of the correspondence around the meeting were redacted by the prime minister’s office in the documents released. The decision-maker wrote that since the meeting was organised by Albanese’s electorate office, emails relating to the logistics of the meeting “are not official documents of the minister and the [FOI] Act does apply”. | Large slabs of the correspondence around the meeting were redacted by the prime minister’s office in the documents released. The decision-maker wrote that since the meeting was organised by Albanese’s electorate office, emails relating to the logistics of the meeting “are not official documents of the minister and the [FOI] Act does apply”. |
| At the press conference, Albanese said O’Neal had “agreed to do some vids and to have a chat about the importance of bringing people together” for the voice campaign. | At the press conference, Albanese said O’Neal had “agreed to do some vids and to have a chat about the importance of bringing people together” for the voice campaign. |
| The government has not confirmed when the promised videoswould be released. It is understood O’Neal did not record any material on the day of the meeting, but discussions were had about producing videos later. | The government has not confirmed when the promised videoswould be released. It is understood O’Neal did not record any material on the day of the meeting, but discussions were had about producing videos later. |
| Neither the offices of Albanese nor Burney responded to requests for comment on potential campaign videos from O’Neal. Albanese’s office also did not respond to questions on the FOI redactions or why the meeting was organised through his electorate office instead of his prime ministerial office. | Neither the offices of Albanese nor Burney responded to requests for comment on potential campaign videos from O’Neal. Albanese’s office also did not respond to questions on the FOI redactions or why the meeting was organised through his electorate office instead of his prime ministerial office. |
| After negative feedback about O’Neal’s appearance, Albanese in August told opponents to “chill out a bit”. | After negative feedback about O’Neal’s appearance, Albanese in August told opponents to “chill out a bit”. |
| “The fact is that Shaq’s appearance means that people are talking about it,” he told 2SM radio. | “The fact is that Shaq’s appearance means that people are talking about it,” he told 2SM radio. |
| “Shaq appeals to a whole bunch of people, many of whom would have been hearing about the voice to parliament for the very first time, and that’s a good thing.” | “Shaq appeals to a whole bunch of people, many of whom would have been hearing about the voice to parliament for the very first time, and that’s a good thing.” |