The independent AFL investigation into allegations of racism at Hawthorn will not progress to mediation on Tuesday as the league continues to seek ways to end the imbroglio.
A source with knowledge of the investigation’s progress, who wished to remain anonymous, said talks were ongoing between parties hoping to achieve a resolution to the eight-month investigation.
The investigation reached an impasse when the parties making the allegations did not approve the release of documents former Hawthorn officials Alastair Clarkson, Chris Fagan and Jason Burt were seeking before agreeing to be formally interviewed by the panel.
Alastair Clarkson with Chris Fagan in 2011. Credit: Sebastian Costanzo
Those parties objected to providing the documents, according to the head of the panel, Bernard Quinn KC, to “other participants because they contained personal, sensitive or private information protected from the disclosure by relevant privacy and related laws”.
“The panel was recently informed by these participants that they do not agree to the provision of any of these documents to any other participants prior to mediation. This objection was made on the basis that the production of documents at this time prejudices the prospects of successful mediation,” Quinn said.
The four-person panel conducting the eight-month investigation conducted interviews, received 20 statements of evidence, sought 37,000 emails and documents from Hawthorn and reviewed 545 documents provided to the panel.
