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HAWTHORN president Jeff Kennett has sparked outrage in Tasmania over his defence of a Victorian football club that sacked its trainer for being gay. The Tassie Hawks president said former Bonnie Doon club trainer Ken Campagnolo, who is fighting his dismissal from the club, could pose the same risk as a pedophile.

The Tasmanian Government is the naming rights sponsor for Hawthorn, doling out $15 million to the club over three years.

A logo with TASMANIA written in bold is on the uniform of every Hawthorn player and club staff member.

Mr Kennett's comments were slammed by Tasmania's peak gay rights group yesterday.

Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group spokesman Rodney Croome said Tasmanians should feel embarrassed at having their state's name associated with the Hawthorn president.

"Jeff Kennett should immediately step aside from his role in Beyond Blue (a depression help body) because he is perpetuating precisely the myths, stereotypes and prejudices which cause depression and suicide in the gay community," Mr Croome said.

Mr Kennett said the club was within its rights to sack the veteran country football trainer.

"The club felt that once this had been pointed out and you had this gentlemen there who was obviously close to young men -- massaging young men -- it ran an unnecessary risk and that's why they decided it was best that he not perform those duties again. So they were trying to do the right thing," he said.

"When you are in charge of a group of young boys, as this club was as I understand it, it's got to make sure.

"It's the same if you have a pedophile there as a masseur, right?

"And you might say the pedophile would do no damage, but once it was pointed out to you, you have a duty of care to those under-age children not to put them in a situation of risk."

Mr Kennett said he couldn't guarantee a gay trainer would be welcome at Hawthorn.

"I don't know what our policy would be, I'm just saying at the moment we have a duty of care to our players and our staff and you've got to make judgments on that," he said.

Tasmanian Government spokesman Rohan Wade said the Government would contact Mr Kennett to clarify the alleged comments.

"Given . . . the State Government did not hear the comments first-hand and has only been made aware of the alleged comments by a member of the media, it is difficult to ascertain for certain the accuracy of what may or may not have been said," he said.

"The State Government does not condone discrimination of any kind, including discrimination due to a person's sexuality, and it is a matter of record that Tasmania has proudly led the country on legislation relating to same-sex relationships."

But Mr Croome said Tasmania's image was being seriously tarnished.

"It is extremely embarrassing for Tasmania to be associated with these comments made by the Hawthorn president," he said.

"I have heterosexual cousins who play in the AFL and believe me there is no doubt some of their teammates are gay. There are gay men in every team, including Hawthorn.

"Mr Kennett owes all of those players an apology. This type of bigotry has no place in this state and it has no place in football."

AFL Tasmania general manager Scott Wade said his organisation did not discriminate on sexual preference.

"In the early years of the Tasmanian Devils we employed a trainer who was gay and he was a highly valued and respected member of the team," Mr Wade said.

Source: www.news.com.au

MARK WORLEY
and JAMES CAMPBELL