Retiring Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett says the club has begun working with the five families who have made racist allegations against the club.Credit:Getty Images
“Their stories,anonymously told,were provided to the AFL integrity unit as we were required to do and as was recommended in the survey report. The AFL is now conducting its investigations. That said,we have already been working with the families concerned to better understand their concerns and assist them where possible and reasonable. We,like you,await the results of the AFL’s investigation.”
A four-person panel,led by Bernard Quinn,KC,will lead the investigation,but the five families have yet to confirm whether they have confidence in the process and are willing to participate in the hearings. The investigation and findings are due to be released by December 22.
Loading
The families had laid out their concerns in an internal probe of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s experiences with the Hawks,launched by the club,and authored by consultant Phil Egan,a former Richmond player.
“As we work hard to provide a safe and enjoyable workplace for all our employees,no workplace should ever be afraid,as we have at Hawthorn,to survey employees,to get their honest reaction to their experiences. If and where fault is found,it can then be addressed. Without that knowledge,more faults may continue,” Kennett said.
“Asking the questions of our past players was the right thing to do.The survey results were made public before we could address the allegations through a proper process.”