Passport Ban Could Halt Tour, Says Labor

Sydney Morning Herald

Saturday May 12, 2007

Phillip Hudson

THE Federal Government could stop Australia's cricketers from touring Zimbabwe by using its external affairs power to make void the players' passports for the duration of the Test matches, according to legal advice obtained by the Labor Party.

The Herald also understands that Cricket Australia has raised the option of passport restrictions in its talks with the Government.

Labor's foreign affairs spokesman, Robert McClelland, told the Herald: "I think that would get Cricket Australia off the hook."

"Cricket Australia would be able to say that their arrangements had been frustrated by government intervention, but it would have to be done in consultation with Cricket Australia,"he said.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Alexander Downer, is seeking his own advice about ways to stop the trip, including passport restrictions. While he does not want the cricketers to tour, Mr Downer is believed to be concerned about being heavy-handed by putting travel curbs on the World Cup-winning cricketers. There is also concern in Government ranks about being seen to treat the players like fugitives.

Mr McClelland said his advice was that the passports would only need to be made void for "a very short duration", but it would be enough to mean they risked being in Zimbabwe without valid papers. The Government could make a "time and circumstance determination" under the minister's general discretion to cancel travel documents.

The Prime Minister, John Howard, said he wanted to ban the tour, describing Zimbabwe's President, Robert Mugabe, as a "grubby dictator" who would use the matches, scheduled for September, as propaganda.

"Although it pains me as a cricket lover, to see the Government getting involved in this, there is overwhelming feeling in the community and there are overwhelming reasons why the tour shouldn't go ahead. It will be used by Mugabe as a propaganda weapon," Mr Howard told Melbourne radio.

It is understood Cricket Australia wants the Government to impose a ban. Under its contract, the sporting body could be fined more than $2.5 million unless the tour was cancelled on security grounds or because of a government ban.

Mr Howard said he had spoken with the cricket team's captain, Ricky Ponting, about his concerns.

© 2007 Sydney Morning Herald

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