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<\/p>\nThe Sydney Swans have apologised for removing references to the Jewish community in a speech honouring victims of the Bondi massacre during the AFL’s opening round.<\/p>\n
The apology was issued after Liberal senator James Paterson referred the AFL to the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion for investigation, airing claims that the league was behind the script change.<\/p>\n
A ceremony held on March 5 during the opening round match between Sydney and Carlton at the Sydney Cricket Ground paid tribute to those affected by the Bondi terror attack.<\/p>\n
Swans chief executive and former player Matthew Pavlich spoke at the ceremony, which included survivors and emergency responders being honoured on the ground.<\/p>\n
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Sydney Swans chief executive and former player Matthew Pavlich makes the speech during the AFL’s opening round. (Getty Images\/AFL Photos: Michael Willson)<\/p>\n
“We come together this evening to honour those who were injured and those who lost their lives at Bondi Beach in December,” Pavlich said before a moment of silence.<\/p>\n
“To all in our community, we stand with you.”<\/p>\n
But allegations were made during the week on SEN radio by former Swans great Gerard Healy, who claimed the speech had been changed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“The script was changed. Initially, it had: ‘We stand with the Jewish community,'” Healy said.<\/p>\n
“I think it was an error of \u2026 misjudgement.”<\/p>\n
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The ceremony honoured survivors of the attack, including Ahmed Al Ahmed. (AAP: Dean Lewins)<\/p>\n
Healy said he had spoken to Swans chairman Andrew Pridham, but was unsure of who made the decision to change the script.<\/p>\n
AFL referred to royal commission<\/p>\n
The comments were picked up today by Senator Paterson, who levelled accusations against the AFL in his referral to the royal commission.<\/p>\n
Senator Paterson said there were reports an acknowledgement of the Jewish community was removed at the request of the AFL.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“It is particularly concerning that someone at the AFL apparently believes that acknowledging that the victims of Bondi were Jewish is a ‘political’ act, and is certainly not consistent with the AFL’s enthusiastic past embrace of contentious political causes, like the Voice referendum,” Mr Patterson said.<\/p>\n
“It is incredibly disappointing that even after Bondi, influential institutions like the AFL are still clearly failing.”<\/p>\n
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James Paterson called for an investigation into allegations the AFL was behind a speech change. (ABC News: Matt Roberts)<\/p>\n
During an SEN radio interview on Saturday, AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon said he was not aware of the contents of the speech before the event.<\/p>\n
“I don’t know exactly the ins and outs of scripts and the like,” Mr Dillon said.<\/p>\n
“Matthew [Pavlich] did a great job of hosting that ceremony, and I think it was the appropriate forum and it paid tribute to those victims and, again, what was a horrific attack on the Jewish community.”<\/p>\n