Fed: Govt should pay $3m fine to ICC over Zimbabwe tour

AAP General News (Australia)
04-26-2004
Fed: Govt should pay $3m fine to ICC over Zimbabwe tour

SYDNEY, April 26 AAP - The government should consider paying a $3 million fine to allow
the Australian cricket team to withdraw from its tour of Zimbabwe, federal Liberal backbencher
Bronwyn Bishop said today.

Mrs Bishop said she had problems with the Australian team touring Zimbabwe and backed
Stuart MacGill's decision to make himself unavailable before the team was announced.

Asked if the government should pay the $3 million to the International Cricket Council
to enable Australia to withdraw, and allow players a conscience vote on the issue, Mrs
Bishop said she would if it was up to her.

"If it was up to me, I'd say yes," she told the Seven Network.

"The government could consider making a payment to the cricket board to keep it afloat
because I think I've seen the story that says if they don't go and they're fined that
there's a flow on effect from the sale of seats, television rights ...

"I do think it's a very important issue, I felt very strongly for Stuart MacGill.

"I have a good deal of problem about going."

Labor's foreign affairs spokesman Kevin Rudd said the opposition would keep a close
watch on developments in Zimbabwe.

If Zimbabwe captain Heath Streak was dumped on racial grounds, that had to be condemned,
Mr Rudd said.

"It is absolutely reprehensible," he said.

"If this guy's been knocked out of the captaincy of his team on the basis of racial
profiling, it deserves absolute total condemnation.

"We can't allow this sort of behaviour to extend and to continue.

"At the same time, we recognise the autonomy of Cricket Australia."

MacGill said he had been worried about the humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe for more
than a year before making himself unavailable for the tour.

AAP sal/cat/br

KEYWORD: CRICKET AUST BISHOP

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