I've quoted the entire interview because Anderson deserves some kind of award for calmly informing Kathy and the audience (in so many words) that the two Government officials had just made fools of a dying government led by that desiccated coconut.

KATHY BOWLEN (to Adrian Anderson) Adrian Anderson, the Sports Minister says he hopes the AFL will change its drug testing regime. Is it?

ADRIAN ANDERSON, AFL FOOTBALL OPERATIONS MANAGER: Well, look, we've just received a submission here from the Federal Government raising a few points and we'll have a look at that and consider it. What was really pleasing was that the Government acknowledged that we are the only sport that is testing for illicit drugs out of competition. That was a really positive step.

KATHY BOWLEN: The Government says it wants to test 365 days a year. Will you do that?

ADRIAN ANDERSON: Well, look, we're the only sport at the moment that tests throughout the year for illicit drugs whenever a player is at his club. So, look, we'll have a look at what they've proposed here and we're very interested in how they go with other sports as well. They're going to talk with other sports who currently don't do any illicit drug testing out of competition. We'll have a chat to them after they've done and I think that'll be very interesting.

KATHY BOWLEN: When we spoke to the Minister he said they were more interested in chasing the AFL first and then turning to other sports.

ADRIAN ANDERSON: Yes, well, that's very interesting. As I said, about two-and-a-half years ago, we decided to do something about illicit drugs out of competition and we devised this policy to test over and above to what applies in any other sport. Look, we're happy to talk to the Government about that it was really pleasing that they were so positive and congratulated us on testing our players over and above what applies anywhere else.

KATHY BOWLEN: You say the Government congratulated you, but the Minister told us that a three strikes policy is anything but tolerance.

ADRIAN ANDERSON: As I said, the Government congratulated us as being the only sport that's doing this testing. They've raised some issues about how we do that. Look, we're very happy to have a look at that and we are certainly interested in what they're proposing for other sports who currently don't do the testing. It will be a really interesting process to go through to hear what the result of their dialogue with other sports because this is more than just an AFL issue. This is about illicit drug use which is a massive issue in society. We have been trying for two-and-a-half years to do something about it in our own way, and look, I don't think there are any simple answers but we're happy to work with the Government and to look at what they've raised here and do what we can even better.

KATHY BOWLEN: Do you think your message on drug testing has gone out clearly, or has there been a problem with the way the AFL has sold its position?

ADRIAN ANDERSON: I think there has been a problem in people actually understanding what we do, I acknowledge that, and I think slowly people are beginning to understand that we are the only sport that test for illicit drugs out of competition and that's because of a genuine desire to look after the health and welfare of our players and take the lead on illicit drug testing. 

And I think slowly people are bringing to understand that. And when other sports aren't doing anything it's very easy to criticise us for stepping forward and actually trying to do something about the issue, but we make no bones about that, we think it's important to do something, and we've exposed ourselves to a bit of criticism and misunderstanding along the way, but the message is slowly getting through.

KATHY BOWLEN: The Minister sound the as though he was waiting for the AFL to move before anything else happens.

ADRIAN ANDERSON: Look, we've received this submission here which has raised four or five points for us to consider, but what else was said by the Minister was that they would be talking to other sports who currently don't do any testing for illicit drugs out of competition. We are the only ones who do that, so it will be interesting to see I think the next step will be for them to talk to other sports and them come back to us as to what they propose as an approach across the industry, so we can all work together on this very difficult issue.

KATHY BOWLEN: Did the Federal Government threaten to withhold any fund s in order to get the AFL to talk?

ADRIAN ANDERSON: No, there was no threats or anything like that, and I mean…

KATHY BOWLEN: Suggests?

ADRIAN ANDERSON: No, no threats, suggestions. I mean, it would be very odd to do that, given that we are the only ones trying to do something about illicit drugs and actually got a program to test for them. So, no, they didn't raise that, it was a constructive meeting and look, I hope and think we will be able to make some progress down the track once they've spoken to the other sports.

KATHY BOWLEN: And can I just be clear with this, the AFL won't meet with the Government now, again, on drugs testing until the Federal Government has met other sports bodies?

ADRIAN ANDERSON: Well, they indicated to us that they would be meeting other sports who currently don't do any testing for illicit drugs out of competition. We think that's the logical next step and we're certainly happy to talk to them after they've done that.

KATHY BOWLEN: Adrian Anderson, thanks for your time.

ADRIAN ANDERSON: Thanks for having me on.

-- Hyper Roland