Melbourne elder lashes Storm as battle with board intensifies ahead of Indigenous round
But in a scathing statement, Murphy condemned the Storm's association with board member and part-owner Brett Ralph, whose $75,000 donation to conservative lobby group Advance Australia has become a point of contention.
This masthead revealed in 2023 that Ralph donated $75,000 to Advance Australia in the previous financial year through his company, JMR Management Consultancy Services. Advance was behind the No campaign in the Voice to Parliament referendum.
Murphy said she could not, in good conscience, participate in official Storm functions or cultural work until cultural respect and safety standards had been set.
'I carry a deep responsibility to community and will not compromise my integrity as a proud Aboriginal woman and community Elder,' she said. 'We cannot support an organisation that has associations with any group that incites racial vilification and division.'
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Just days ago, Melbourne Storm issued a formal apology to First Nations communities over the last-minute cancellation of the NRL club's Welcome to Country ceremony in April.
Wurundjeri elder Aunty Joy Murphy had been scheduled to perform the ceremony on Anzac Day. Performances from First Nations groups were also planned.
However, the club abruptly cancelled the ceremony at the last minute, which the Storm later attributed to an internal miscommunication regarding the classification of cultural events.
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