Whether you like it or not – and,upfront,I love it – Zali Steggall has changed this country. Back in 2019,Australia’s Winter Olympic bronze medallist and world champion had the courage to stand as an Independent against a former Prime Minister in Tony Abbott,and dusted him.
Independent candidate Zali Steggall has retained her seat of Warringah,defeating Liberal challenger Katherine Deves.
It was that success that brought the Independents forth in a rush and,using precisely the model she had developed,no fewer than six “Teal candidates” – all of them mature,accomplished,professional women – triumphed.
In many ways,they are the exemplars of what Luca Belgiorno-Nettis has been banging on about for years – the virtues of having NON-career politicians making decisions,those who bring to the table diverse experience.
How much of Steggall’s remarkable success can be attributed to the things she learnt in sport I know not,but certainly mastering the intricacies of the alpine slalom discipline and mustering the courage it requires,didn’t hurt her any in mastering the many twists and turns of politics.
Ditto,the great Wallaby,David Pocock who,even as we speak seems likely to be confirmed asSenatorPocock,if you please! He ran on a platform of small ‘l’ liberal policies,starting with taking effective action on climate change,affirming equal rights for the LGBTQI community,bringing Voluntary Assisted Dying laws to the ACT. He looks to have taken down a sitting Liberal Senator who opposed all of the above.
![Zali Steggall has strengthened her hold on Warringah](https://static.ffx.io/images/$width_300%2C$height_150/t_crop_auto/t_sharpen%2Cq_auto%2Cf_auto/dfdf407ed91805c103aac81230fa06a594083a9b)
Zali Steggall has strengthened her hold on WarringahLouise Kennerley
Sport can be very proud of both of them. Again,regardless of your politics,they have both displayed extraordinary courage and skill and have committed to trying to make the world a better place.
Their remarkable success has prompted one of the Twitterati,@alexjosh,to ask,“Fitz,your top 5 sportspeople you’d love to see in politics in the future?”
I thought you’d never ask! In no particular order other than how much I am frightened of how they’ll treat me if I don’t name them at the top of my ticket,here is my list.
1. Liz Ellis
The former Australian netball captain and well-known media commentator is a must. Her profile isprecisely that of the successful “teal” candidates – a mature professional,woman – though she is already better-known than all of them.
The panel on Sports Sunday discuss Toby Rudolf's post-match comments.
Beyond that,as one who has worked with her for many years on sports panel shows,I can affirm that she is smart as a whip,with a singular ability to analyse seriously difficult issues and come out the other end with the right answer,more often than not – and I mean this – running rings around your humble correspondent in the process.
She is on a sabbatical as we speak,sending me photos of her and her family from water holes west of Woop-Woop,but will be back at the end of the year!
2. Craig Foster
The former Socceroo has been a brilliant advocate for many worthy causes for years – none moreso than asylum seekers and refugees – and has proven both his courage and what a canny operator he is. Senator Craig Foster would be an adornment to the Federal Parliament. And he might be interested!
“It’s important for sport to engage in broader social and political issues and no longer be reticent to speak about climate,human rights,social justice,” he told me yesterday. “Zali has been exceptional and,along with David will hopefully inspire not just more former athletes,but sport itself to join progressive voices for change.”
3. Kurt Fearnley
Our favourite Paralympian has a remarkable life story,is widely beloved and has been a strong advocate of many political causes,including disability issues – most particularly defending the National Disability Insurance Scheme – Uluru,and asylum seekers.
He also tells me,“I’d die in a ditch to defend public education. There’s plenty more I’d fight for in the public domain,but I don’t want you to write too much! Treaty,truth&may we see a strong independent Republic of Australia.”
![Australian basketballer Patty Mills received an Australia Day honour.](https://static.ffx.io/images/$width_300%2C$height_150/t_crop_auto/t_sharpen%2Cq_auto%2Cf_auto/cc8661408b8127a6b46a7c3501969e3d46808de1)
Australian basketballer Patty Mills received an Australia Day honour.Getty Images
4. Patty Mills
Everything you read and hear about our Indigenous NBA star marks him out as a special human with a great social conscience. As recently reported inThe Guardian,“away from the basketball court,Mills is a fierce social justice advocate and has a long history of philanthropic activity.”
Last year,he donated his entire San Antonio Spurs salary from the start of the resumption of the NBA season – amounting to around $1.5m – to theBlack Lives Matter Australia movement andBlack Deaths in Custody.
He also gave toWe Got You,an Australian anti-racism campaign which he and[Joe] Ingles are a part of. Earlier that year,during the NBA All-Star break,he returned to Australia at the time of the east coast bushfires and helped out devastated communities in country NSW.” What’s not to love?
5. Dylan Alcott
The incumbent Australian of the Year has a tough gig – who could follow Grace Tame,and the impact she made? – but was strong enough to recently rebuke the outgoing Prime Minister Scott Morrison for saying that parents of children with disabilities had not been blessed. He’s accomplished,and articulate,and whatever his wider politics might be,would be every chance of succeeding.
Other names have been thrown at me.
Ash Barty? Yes,terrific. She is a great Australian,but I do wonder if one who retired from the professional tennis circuit at the age of 25,would ever willingly throw herself into the hurly-burly of Canberra Politics?
Pat Cummins. Nup. He’s cut out for the Diplomatic Corps. The way he navigated the recent departure of Justin Langer was nothing short of remarkable.
Adam Goodes? Nup. Too noble! Politics has so much cut and thrust to it. I am not sure the great one could ever do the kind of midnight deals required? Don’t you think he’d more likely be one to eschew petty politics? First President of the republic then? That would be for the people to decide. As Chair of the ARM I can report that his name is one that frequently comes up,but we’ll see and . . .
![Adam Goodes’ ethics are perhaps too robust for politics.](https://static.ffx.io/images/$width_300%2C$height_150/t_crop_auto/t_sharpen%2Cq_auto%2Cf_auto/dc3a1696bef2f0536930e8f951d6b46a3aac7b6b)
Adam Goodes’ ethics are perhaps too robust for politics.AFR
And yes,I know. I haven’t yet named any sportsperson on the conservative side of the equation.
Shhh. I am thinking. They are not jumping out and grabbing me. The tennis star John Alexander did a fair job for the Libs as the Member for Bennelong,but who else have you got? Sam Groth is actually the pre-selected Lib Candidate for the Victorian seat of Nepean,but that is fairly small potatoes,all things considered.
Who else have you got? Send some angry emails!
@Peter_Fitz
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