Right: former Prime Minister Tony Abbott unwittingly promoted Macklemore's Same Love ... with the song racing to top the Australian charts after Abbott's call to ban it from the NRL grand final.
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Arguments in favour of inviting Macklemore to sing at the NRL grand final
1. Mackelmore is a very popular entertainer picked to suit NRL fan preferences
Supporters of Macklemore note that he is a very successful entertainer whose work has sold very well and that his performance is likely to be enjoyed by many of those attending the NRL grand final.
With regard to the particular song that has been questioned, Same Love supporters have noted that when it was released in Australia in 2012 it sold over 300,000 copies, spent four weeks at No. 1 and was prominent on commercial radio for even longer. It has had over 170 million views on YouTube.
Cameron Adams, News Corp's national music writer has stated, 'At the time it was the most popular song in Australia and there were no petitions, no angry tweets from politicians, no drama. Macklemore has even toured here (twice) playing the song in question to thousands of paying customers.'
Adams has further noted, 'Macklemore has had four No. 1 hits in Australia, Same Love is one of them, so it's no huge shock it's on the playlist alongside "Thrift Shop" and "Downtown" and his latest release "Glorious".'
Huffington Post's sports and environment editor, Anthony Sharwood, has noted that the NRL took deliberate measures to select an entertainer whom NRL fans would enjoy. Sharwood has written, 'The NRL took the unprecedented step of actually asking fans who they'd like. The NRL organised a special focus group, and Macklemore emerged as the dominant choice.'
The NRL's Chief Commercial Officer, Andrew Abdo, has commented, 'The fact that we were able to bring an act that was specifically requested by a fan focus group is something really special.'
Abdo has further noted, 'He is one of the world's leading artists at the moment and popular with Australians and most importantly our fans. It is a real coup for him to be performing exclusively for us during his only show in Australia on the back of the release of his new album.'
As a further indication of the popularity of Macklemore's Same Love, the track hit number one on iTunes in Australia after former Prime Minister Tony Abbott and others opposed it. The song replaced another Macklemore track 'Good Old Days' from his latest album 'GEMINI'.
A light and pyro show will accompany the performance, in line with the NRL's theme for the decider: Let's Make It Grand. Andrew Abdo concluded, 'Our Grand Final Entertainment will once again ensure that the biggest match of the season is a spectacular event not to be missed.'
2. The lyrics of Same Love are unlikely to be offensive to most fans
Defenders of Macklemore's Same Love argue that the song promotes worthy sentiments that are not likely to give offense. Numerous supporters of the song have stressed the positive values it endorses and its inclusivity, in part because the song is calling for tolerance. The title stresses that homosexual love is not a better form of love; rather it suggests that at base all love is the same, however expressed.
At the 56th Grammy Awards in 2014, where Macklemore and Ryan Lewis performed Same Love, Queen Latifah stated, 'This song is not a love song for some of us, but for all of us.'
Equality campaign co-leader, Alex Greenwich, has also defended the sentiments promoted in the song. He has stated, 'Same Love is a song which is about love and happiness and I think that's what Australians want to hear.'
Former Prime Minister, Tony Abbott's daughter, Frances, has also declared herself a supporter of the song, stating on Instagram, 'I still remember the first time I heard this song. I was sitting in my car, about to get out to go to work... but stopped and sat and listened. I can't think of a better song for all the hundreds of thousands of people to listen to on Saturday.'
Defenders of the song have further noted that in previous years lyrics that were far more likely to give offense have passed without comment. They have accused Same Loves' opponents of exaggeration and hypocrisy.
In an opinion piece published in Huffington Post on September 27, 2017, Anthony Sharwood stated, 'Back in 2014, Welsh crooner Tom Jones starred at the AFL grand final. Among the songs he performed was his hit Delilah, which graphically tells the story of a jilted man who knifes his girlfriend to death.
This song was deemed unworthy of complaint by the then Prime Minister of Australia, Tony Abbott.'
3. Same-sex marriage is not a party-political issue
Some supporters of Macklemore singing Same Love at the NRL grand final argue that marriage equality is not a political issue in any narrow, party-political sense.
It is an issue that will ultimately require a political solution, in that it will require a majority vote in both houses of Parliament to change the Marriage Act to remove references to gender; however, it is not an issue that will be resolved on party lines. If a same-sex marriage bill is put to the Parliament before the end of 2017, both the Coalition and the Labor party will allow a conscience vote on the question.
On August 28, 2017, Huffington Post reported that a contingent of Liberals and Nationals, including party elders, current parliamentarians and Young Liberals and Nationals, have formed to campaign on the 'yes' case for the more conservative side of Australian politics. 'It is a broad cross-section of the Coalition parties, formed as a group called 'Libs and Nats for Yes', which...adds to the known group of Liberals; Dean Smith, Tim Wilson, Warren Entsch, Trevor Evans, Trent Zimmerman and Jason Wood, who are trying to get a free vote on parliament on same-sex marriage. One Liberal Party elder, former Howard Government minister Amanda Vanstone [has stated]... that marriage equality is a conservative, or more correctly in her view, a liberal issue, in its support for the institution of marriage.'
The group has federal Liberal Party President and former NSW Premier Nick Greiner as its patron. Other prominent Liberals and Nationals include Government leader in the House Christopher Pyne, Education Minister Simon Birmingham and Nationals Infrastructure Minister Darren Chester. On September 10, 2017, the Coalition Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, announced that he would be voting 'yes' for same-sex marriage and a week later publicly urged all other Australians to vote the same way.
Bill Shorten, the Parliamentary leader of the Labor Party also supports same-sex marriage, as do a large majority of Labor MPs. However, on August 6, 2017, it was reported that at least six Labor senators may oppose same-sex marriage as a matter of conscience. Therefore, the same-sex marriage question does not divide within the federal parliament along Party-political lines.
The head of the NRL, Todd Greenberg, has also indicated that the NRL is not intending to make any narrowly political statement. He has stated, the NRL was 'not aimed at making political statements' but 'just simply aimed at making the position well known. At some point in the game we need to take a position. And that's what we've done.'
Supporters of the NRL declaring its endorsement of same-sex marriage and inviting Macklemore to sing at the grand final argue that the NRL is doing no more than stating its position on a broad social issue such as racism, sexism and general inequality and discrimination. They argue that this is not a political statement in any partisan or divisive sense. One of Macklemore's co-performers, Mary Lambert, has stated, 'Performing Same Love in Australia is not about being political. It's about being human.'
4. Freedom of speech is an important Australian value
Supporters of Macklemore being able to perform Same Love at the NRL grand final argue that this is a question involving the right to free speech.
According to this line of argument, permitting a wide range of views to be canvassed is an essential element of a democracy, as it allows the electorate to arrive at an informed opinion. As part of this process, it is important that each individual with a particular view on an issue be able to express it. There are limitations on this right; however, critics note, this is only in so far as freedom of speech is not used to promote civil disorder or cause individual injury.
Australia's Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull has said of the Macklemore performance, 'Trying to censor the playlist at the half-time entertainment at the grand final is not consistent with taking a liberal approach to free speech.' Turnbull has explicitly argued that to the extent that voting in the same-sex marriage survey is a democratic process, then it is being fostered by allowing different views to be expressed.
The Prime Minister has stated, 'The reality is a democracy operates by giving people their say. Now I grant you, this survey doesn't have a precedent, it's new. But it is democratic...'
Senator Brandis has similarly argued that the 'No' campaign, in attempting to censor Macklemore's performance, was trying to shut down freedom of speech. Senator Brandis has stated, 'It is one of his [Macklemore's] most popular songs, and for Mr Abbott or anyone else to say that it should be banned I think is a bizarre thing to say. I thought Mr Abbott believed in freedom of speech.'
After Macklemore's NRL grand final performance, Ben Fordham, a journalist and sports reporter currently working as a drive presenter on Sydney radio station 2GB and as the host of television program Australian Ninja Warrior posted a supportive comment on Twitter. Fordham stated, 'Here's my bit of free speech - Macklemore was great and I hope the precious snowflakes who wanted him censored survived those sweet tunes.'
Critics of those who have sought to censor Macklemore's performance accuse their opponents of hypocrisy in supporting free speech only so long as it is their views that are being presented. Greens Senator, Sarah Hanson-Young has posted on Twitter, 'Tony Abbott and Pauline Hanson want to gag Macklemore from singing Same Love. Free speech only if you agree with them.'
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5. Tolerance of different sexual orientations is part of the NRL's attempt to foster inclusivity
The NRL has justified is hiring of Macklemore for the 2017 grand final and the addition of his song Same Love in that performance by noting that both the rapper and his song are in accord with the League's declared position on inclusivity.
In common with other major sporting codes in Australia, NRL has a policy of inclusion covering all races, genders, sexual orientations, ethnic origins and religions. This policy covers all players, administrators, club officials, workers and supporters.
In April, 2015, the NRL announced its introduction of a new, stronger Diversity and Inclusion Policy aimed at eliminating homophobia and other forms of discrimination in Rugby League.
Then Chief Executive, Mr Dave Smith, stated that the NRL was committed to making everyone feel welcome in Rugby League at all levels. He said the NRL already ran an Indigenous Players Camp, Close the Gap round, Women in League round and other programs to demonstrate that everyone has a place in Rugby League.
Mr Smith joined with the heads of four other sporting bodies to present a united front against homophobia. The codes agreed to introduce policies consistent with the newly created Anti-Homophobia and Inclusion Framework by August of 2015.
Current NRL chief executive, Todd Greenberg, has claimed that the NRL's policy on inclusion means that its stance on same-sex marriage is merely a matter of consistency.
Greenberg has stated, 'It would be hypocritical of the NRL to be promoting inclusivity while not delivering on it.'
Greenberg added, 'We're very comfortable with that, we're an inclusive game and whilst everyone will stand for their own issues and make their own decisions, we're very comfortable with where we sit.'
Diver Matthew Mitcham, who was the first openly homosexual Australian athlete to win an Olympic gold medal, said he was very pleased the NRL and AFL had come out in support of the 'Yes' campaign.
Mitcham also noted that it was in accord with the codes' declared policies of inclusion. Mitcham stated, 'It's really great to see that both the NRL and AFL are really committed to inclusion. It's part of their mission statements it to be inclusive.'