Well, the homophobic saga embroiling the AFL is deepening this morning with fresh calls to cancel Snoop Dogg from performing at next month’s Grand Final. The outrage follows comments made by the controversial rapper criticizing the portrayal of a same sex couple in a children’s movie. For more on this, we are joined this morning by Shadow Immigration Minister Paul Scarr and Lizzie Pearl by my side in the studio. Paul to you, first and foremost, these comments came a day after the AFL defended the rapper at a media conference. Should Snoop Dogg, get the flick for the grand final?
Senator Scarr
Well, Clint, I think it’s a Grand Final. It should be about the football. It shouldn’t be about the entertainment. And I think in the lead up to a grand final, when people are talking about the entertainment, that’s a bit of a concern. And I don’t see why we have to import these huge international acts to the AFL Grand Final. We’ve got plenty of talent here in Australia, and I’d personally like to see someone in Australia be given the opportunity.
Clint Stanaway
Well, that’s another issue altogether, but surely, this is a case of double standards, in my opinion. Anyway, you’ve got the AFL suspending a bloke for a homophobic slur, a four match ban, and yet Snoop Dogg makes some pretty irresponsible and hurtful comments in a Podcast, yet gets a ticket to the Grand Final. He’s performing on the big stage. Is it a case of double standards do you think?
Senator Scarr
Well, I think you have to be consistent. You have to be consistent. And if you’re going to set certain standards, then people are going to raise questions, just as you’re raising them, if you deviate from those standards on a case by case basis. So I think it’s a good point you make.
Clint Stanaway
Yeah, the AFL has long said it has a zero tolerance on this issue, but there has been inconsistencies during the week and Lizzie in context, the AFL remains the only major professional sporting code in the world to have never had a single male player come out as gay. And yet we’re having this debate right here, right now, because those comments are so hurtful for so many. It’s not helping change.
Lizzie Pearl
No and that tells us everything we need to know about the culture of the AFL that no one feels strong enough or supported enough, or, you know, have enough people around them. And that is heartbreaking because think of all of those young boys, young men who must be feeling so isolated and alone at this point, and then to have Snoop Dogg held up as the Big Hero of the AFL Grand Final and and these are some of the views that he holds, it really is quite distressing. And I’m feeling for a lot of those young men out there this morning who don’t feel supported enough to come out and be themselves.
Clint Stanaway
It feels like a bit of a line in the sand moment for the AFL as well.
Lizzie Pearl
We’ll have to keep an eye on it, because how they how they react from this will tell us a lot about their culture and what they value in their culture.
Clint Stanaway
Well, Said, moving on, Opposition leader Sussan Ley has declared the Coalition will “confront reality, modernize and broaden its appeal”. That’s before the next federal election. Now, these comments came during the party’s Queensland Convention, but Paul in the same breath, the Queensland Branch of the LNP has voted to dump Net Zero, something that’s been dividing the party for some time now. How is this the Opposition broadening its appeal and modernizing?
Senator Scarr
Clint, there are a lot of concerns raised by the convention delegates yesterday in relation to the cost of electricity, the reliability of our electricity grid, and I think those concerns were reflected in the motion that was passed overwhelmingly yesterday. The motion does recognize the place for emissions reduction. The concern raised was in the motion in relation to net zero mandates, where you had mandated targets. And there was great concern raised in relation what’s happening in our mining industry, our manufacturing industry, agricultural industry.
Clint Stanaway
You have to ask, did the party not get the message at the last election?
Senator Scarr
Well, I think the I think the members are really concerned about the cost of electricity in this country and what it’s doing to a lot of our industries. And these are issues which we’ve got to be open eyed about. And in Queensland, we’ve got a Copper Smelter up in Mount Isa, which is facing closure. We’ve got Smelters and Refineries all over this country which are facing closure, and there’s a lot of concerns about what’s happening in the electricity market. Before the last election, we were promised that electricity prices were going to go down by $275 average electricity bill, and they just keep going up and up and up. And so I think these are serious questions, and now’s the time to have a clear eyed debate about what is the future direction in terms of emissions reductions and also energy policy in this country.
Clint Stanaway
I want to lighten the mood and have another debate with you, if I can, because this morning, the top songs so far in 2025 have been revealed. Spotify announcing the 10 tracks Aussies can’t get enough of. Now coming out at number one? Is this hit by Alex Warren…. [AUDIO GRAB] Nothing ordinary about that song. It’s from Alex Warren. Paul, you seem like you know your stuff. Music wise as well. Should that be number one?
Senator Scarr
Well, I’ve got to admit, I saw this list and I didn’t recognize any of the songs on this list, so it’s a bit embarrassing, Clint. You’re displaying my ignorance for everyone to see on Weekend Television here. But I’m working my way through the list. I’m listening to every song on the list. I love a good list, and I’m expanding my music horizons.
Clint Stanaway
It’s all right, you’re a bit of a Smooth. FM, man, I get it. Lizzy, Gen Z like to be a bit different. It seems their music choices are further proof of this. They instead went with this track as their top shared song. [AUDIO GRAB]. Now, that screams, Lizzy Pearl, right there. I like that. Yes, you’re a cool girl.
Lizzie Pearl
Does that make any cool Clint? Is that a Weekend Today first? I am cool? Bevause like Paul, I also looked through the list, and not many names popped out at me, because I’m a bit of an old school gal, but I like that.
Senator Scarr
Very cool, by the way.
Senator Scarr
I can’t understand it, though. I can’t understand the lyrics!
Clint Stanaway
That’s what you listen to in the makeup chair.
Lizzie Pearl
Yeah, that’s my pump up song!
