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Comment: Why booing Goodes is not legitimised
Australians of the Year and the National Australia Day Council have now thrown their collective weight behind the Sydney Swans star and 2014 Australian of the Year, expressing "their concerns about how Adam Goodes is being treated."
In a statement released by the Council, the current Australian of the Year Rosie Batty, 2010 Australian of the Year Professor Patrick McGorry and 2014 NSW Senior Australian of the Year Peter Ford have expressed their support for Goodes.
The National Australia Day Council stated that "the treatment [Goodes] is currently receiving from a minority of Australians is unacceptable" and paid tribute to his "incredible determination, leadership and character."
The full text of the statement reads:
In 2014, the National Australia Day Council (NADC) selected Adam Goodes as the Australian of the Year in recognition of his strong leadership in many areas of Australian life.
Adam's successes on and off the field are a testament to his incredible determination, leadership and character. He has chosen not to shirk tough issues or take the easy path. His strong leadership has been rightly lauded by both Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians alike.
These are values to be admired and qualities to be applauded – they are the reason we named Adam as 2014 Australian of the Year.
Adam is a great and very proud Australian.
The treatment he is currently receiving from a minority of Australians is unacceptable.
The NADC believes, as a nation, we are better than this.
The NADC is proud to stand by Adam Goodes as our 2014 Australian of the Year and is proud of Adam as a fellow Australian.
Australian of the Year Award recipients, including Rosie Batty (2015 Australian of the Year), Professor Patrick McGorry (2010 Australian of the Year) and Peter Ford (2014 NSW Senior Australian of the Year), have also contacted the NADC to express their concerns about how Adam Goodes is being treated and wanting to express their support for Adam.
It comes as the #IStandWithAdam hashtag has taken off in a groundswell of support for the AFL star.
