Federal Coalition MP Llew O’Brien has sparked controversy with a social media post declaring “White Men Can Sprint!” after Australian sprinter Lachlan Kennedy won silver in the 100 metres final at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, setting a new national record of 9.85 seconds.
O’Brien, the LNP member for Wide Bay in Queensland, wrote on Facebook that it was “encouraging to see a White Australian compete at this level in one of the world’s premier sprint events.” He argued his observation was not intended to diminish “the extraordinary achievements of Black athletes, who have dominated elite sprinting for many years,” but simply acknowledged that “Australians of every background can take pride in seeing someone who reflects their own heritage succeed.”
Political Reactions
Opposition leader Angus Taylor downplayed the comments on Thursday, praising all Australian athletes regardless of background. “I don’t care what their background is. I congratulate all Australians who are competing for Australia and doing well. We love Australians winning medals,” Taylor told reporters.
Independent senator Lidia Thorpe, a Gunnai, Gunditjmara and Djab Wurrung woman, called on O’Brien to “check his own privilege and prejudice.” She said his comments “feed into a racist narrative that we’re trying to eradicate in this country because it continues to divide us.” Thorpe added that O’Brien showed “no understanding of the privilege of whiteness and how many layers Aboriginal people have to get through to get to that professional athlete level.”
Greens leader Larissa Waters criticised the post, saying there had been a “race to the bottom on things like this.” She stated, “I’m really proud this young guy set a new record. I don’t think his skin colour has anything to do with his abilities.”
Kennedy’s Achievement
Kennedy took silver in the 100m final behind Cameroon’s Emmanuel Eseme, who won gold in a Commonwealth Games record time of 9.83 seconds. Nigeria’s Kayinsola Ajayi took bronze with 9.90 seconds. Kennedy’s time of 9.85 seconds broke the long-standing Australian record held by Patrick Johnson.
O’Brien maintained that “there is nothing wrong with being proud of your heritage. Whether you’re Black or White, pride in who you are is good when it doesn’t come at the expense of respect for others.” He congratulated Kennedy and all Australian athletes representing the country.
O’Brien’s Political Background
O’Brien has a reputation as a maverick within the Coalition. In 2020, he moved a spill motion against then-leader Michael McCormack to allow Barnaby Joyce to contest the leadership. The motion failed, and O’Brien temporarily split from the Nationals party room. He later accepted a nomination from Labor to serve as deputy speaker, denying the government’s endorsed candidate.
There had been speculation O’Brien could follow Joyce to One Nation amid the rise of Pauline Hanson’s party in Queensland, but he said in May that he would remain a Nationals member “until I either choose to retire or when the people choose to retire me.”
