What Pisses Me Off: Team Australia

Do you know what’s really pissing me off at the moment? The term “Team Australia”.

Now I have no complaints about what the term refers to. I believe I am one of history’s most fortunate people to be living in Australia at this time. I have been a member of this “team” since 1946, I have paid my membership dues all my working life, I have actively worked for it, my husband and I have given it new members, I have not broken its rules.

But I cringe when I hear the term, “Team Australia”. It is a simplistic analogy that sweeps aside serious consideration of what its citizens think the society should be. It is an all or nothing term.

I have heard the term used in a business sense, though I’m not exactly sure what it means. I’ve seen ads for activities that are ‘team building’ and I’ve seen Rugby tops embroidered with ‘Team RMW’ but I haven’t made the connection with those things and being an Australian citizen.

And, of course, we play sport in teams and we barrack for our team. But a whole country being on the team?

For a start, a sporting team is sexist. For good reasons. Australia may retain some elements of sexism but in law men and women are equal. Sorry, fellas, but you just can’t be on the Matildas, however gifted.

The leadership of a sporting is earned by merit. The captain has been a skilled performer for many years and has developed leadership qualities. A sporting team, does not survive in fighting (Go the Tigers!) nor does a political party but once the captain is appointed that is that. Out on the field a captain’s leadership must be followed.

While we do not directly elect the Prime Minister, he or she, is the leader of the party most of us voted for. It is an aspect of politics that in a democracy we are free to criticise as the game is being played. Or do those who use the term wish to silence healthy dissent?

And of course, we have absolutely no say in the constitutional ruler of our country.

The term limits our thinking about our country. Some of us were born here, some were given assistance to migrate, some fled war torn countries, some paid their own way. We have a great diversity and a diverse contribution to make. Sporting teams lack diversity – backs and forwards, bowlers and batters. Thinking in terms of a sporting team denies us the complexity to think about the issues we face. What do we do about our health, education, those with disabilities, the elderly, defending ourselves from internal and external threats. Not everyone who was born here or comes here operates according to the law. How do we treat them. How is the Indigenous population treated?

Simple catch phrases and slogans don’t solve issues or present solutions.

Australians deserve better than that.