Subjects: Hansie Cronje
E&OE...............................
SADLER:
Mr Howard what's your reaction to the Hansie Cronje allegations?
PRIME MINISTER:
Well I'm very sorry and saddened about the whole incident. I know Hansie Cronje, he struck me as a very decent and intelligent man. He was a great cricketer. I'm sorry for South African cricket that this has happened; I feel for him and his family but you really do have to root out this kind of behaviour from the game we all love so much.
SADLER:
Do you think there needs to be some sort of international inquiry?
PRIME MINISTER:
Oh, of course. I mean this is a matter for the cricket authorities, I don't want to tell them what to do, they run the game but they have responsibilities and clearly there are strong suggestions of I guess an international network of bad behaviour by bookmakers and so on. The Australian Cricket Board supports an international inquiry and I would too.
SADLER:
How does this compare to the match forecasting allegations against Warne and Waugh?
PRIME MINISTER:
Well, I'm not going to get into comparisons, that matter was dealt with at the time and I don't think it's fair or appropriate to revisit, that's dealt with and there's nothing to be gained by going back but there's a lot to be gained by putting in place whatever can be put in place to minimise the possibility of this happening again. Also I think we have to keep a sense of perspective. It's very bad for cricket and it saddens me and millions of cricket lovers all around the world, but it's still a great game and we have to keep a sense of perspective about it.
SADLER:
Thank you.