“I’ve got to be quite honest”: Kennett blames his own political comments for $15 million funding snubbing

Outgoing Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett has blamed his own political commentary for the club not receiving $15 million in state government funding for the Kennedy Community Centre.

The Hawks are building the state-of-the-art facility in Dingley Village, hoping it will become the new home of the club.

While the state government has allocated $15 million to the project, the club has not received the money.

Kennett “absolutely” believes his comments condemning Daniel Andrews’ government have led to the funding snubbing.

“It is true that the state government – we’ve got some federal money, we’ve got council money and we’ve got our own money – the state government was committing $15 million,” the outgoing Hawks president said on SEN Breakfast.

“It’s been earmarked, but it hasn’t been allocated and we’ve been waiting for that to happen.

“That has been designated, but not handed over.”

When asked why it hadn’t been handed over, Kennett said:

“I’ve got to be quite honest – and this half the reason this campaign is running against senior board members – it’s because I from time to time have been known to be critical of the state government – just from time to time,” he continued.

“And I understand that. But I ask you to also understand, I spent 23 years of my life involved in politics and the last seven or eight getting us out of a whole in the 80s and 90s getting us back to being a viable state.

“I have seen so much of that deteriorate in the last few years that I see the legacy we delivered to the people of Victoria as a team being destroyed. I don’t say that lightly.

“It’s not only the moral fibre of the state, it’s also the debt, which is $200 billion. I’m just saying to you, please understand why I am upset with what is happening. I gave 23 years of my life to the state … the debt is going to destroy us all. Forget what your politics are.”

Premier Andrews denied a similar claim by Kennett in 2020, saying “not everything is about him. That is news to him, I think”.

Andy Gowers, who is running for the Hawthorn presidency against the Kennett-backed Peter Nankivell, has stated that $10 million from the Dingley project will be pulled by wealthy benefactors because of Kennett’s commentary.

Kennett said he cannot verify if that is in fact the case.

“When you speak to him, ask him to name them will you,” he said.

“I don’t (know if it’s incorrect), but I don’t know who he is talking about … I’ve got no idea. If you want to speak to Andy, ask him to name where that’s coming from. He’s just thrown that out into the marketplace.”

Hawthorn members will be able to vote between Gowers and Nankivell for the club presidency, with Kennett set to move on from the club.