Cricket Australia continue partnership with RECOGNISE

Cricket Australia and some of Australia’s leading cricketers are going into bat for constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. 

As part of Cricket Australia’s push to maintain it’s standing as Australia’s favourite sport – a sport for all Australians, CA will again support the RECOGNISE movement for 2016.

Of the 1.106 million cricket participants across Australia, more than two per cent identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.

Australian men’s pace duo Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins, Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars Ellyse Perry and Alyssa Healy, and rising Indigenous players Jonte Pattison and Ashleigh Gardner feature in a new RECOGNISE TV advertisement released today.

The advertisement, shot at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground, is the next phase in Cricket Australia’s support of constitutional recognition for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and dealing with clauses that allow for discrimination based on race. 

Cricket Australia Chief Executive Officer James Sutherland said the release of the video is a sign of Cricket Australia’s continued support of the RECOGNISE movement.

“This is a significant year in the long history of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cricket. One hundred and fifty years ago, in December 1866, an All-Aboriginal cricket team – which later became the first Australian sports team to tour overseas – played its first match at the MCG,” Mr Sutherland said.

“A century and a half later, Cricket Australia strongly supports the push for constitutional recognition for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island peoples and dealing with racial discrimination.

“Cricket plays a significant role in uniting and inspiring Australians and this includes recognising the historic role of the first Australians and their place in the game. That’s why we support the campaign to recognise the 40,000 years of culture and history of our first peoples.”

RECOGNISE Spokesperson Mark Yettica-Paulson welcomes the continued partnership. 

“Fixing the Constitution is a big task, and it is great to have the support of the Cricket Australia and some of its leading cricketers,” said Mr Yettica-Paulson. 

“In Australia we share a lot of cultures, our sporting culture is just one of them. The support of Cricket Australia and its players will spark many conversations about recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Constitution and dealing with the race discrimination in it,” said Mr Yettica-Paulson.  

The advertisement will be first screened at the MCG and SCG during the KFC T20 INTL series between Australia and India.

Momentum and support for the RECOGNISE campaign continues to rise, with over 286,000 Australians showing their support. Visit www.recognise.org.au for more information