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🇦🇺 Australia /Culture & Society

Winmar Statue Removed During NAIDOC Week After Assault Conviction

From ABC Australia · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Outcome reported
  • The statue of former AFL player Neil Winmar was removed from Perth Stadium on the first day of NAIDOC Week.
  • The removal followed a recent conviction of Winmar for assaulting a woman in Victoria.
  • The statue, erected in 2019, symbolized opposition to racism in AFL and commemorated an iconic anti-racism gesture.

The bronze statue of former AFL player Neil 'Nicky' Winmar has been removed from Perth Stadium, just two days after a Victorian court found him guilty of assaulting a woman. The statue's removal occurred on the first day of NAIDOC Week, a stark contrast to its unveiling in July 2019, which coincided with NAIDOC Week and was intended as a powerful symbol against racism in Australian football.

The statue will be securely stored while its future is considered.

— VenuesWest spokespersonRegarding the future of the Nicky Winmar statue after its removal.

Around 6:45 AM on Sunday, a crane and a crew of about six people took down the statue. This action was directed by WA Premier Roger Cook on Friday. A spokesperson for VenuesWest, the state government entity managing the stadium, confirmed the statue's removal and stated it would be securely stored while its future is considered. The decision was made in consultation with the AFL.

As per the premier's direction and in consultation with the AFL, VenuesWest can confirm that the Nicky Winmar statue has been removed.

— VenuesWest spokespersonConfirming the removal of the statue following the Premier's directive.

Winmar was found guilty by a Bendigo Magistrate on Friday of assaulting a woman in northern Victoria in 2025. Premier Cook responded by ordering the statue's removal, emphasizing that violence against women is "never acceptable" and that the action sends a strong community message. The statue immortalized a pivotal moment in 1993 when Winmar, a Noongar man, lifted his St Kilda guernsey and pointed to his skin in response to racial abuse from spectators during a match against Collingwood.

Never acceptable

— Premier Roger CookStating his position on violence against women in response to Winmar's conviction.

When erected, the statue was hailed by then-premier Mark McGowan as a reminder that "racism has no place in sport, or in society generally." The WA government described it as a "powerful symbol of Aboriginal pride and opposition to racism in Australian sport." Commissioned by the AFL and funded partly by a crowdfunding campaign, the statue's depicted moment was considered highly significant in AFL history, contributing to the introduction of anti-vilification laws.

It was important we send a strong message to the community.

— Premier Roger CookExplaining the rationale behind the statue's removal.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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