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In a series of radio interviews on Saturday, AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon had said he did not know what had happened to the transcript, prompting Paterson to say “excuses and deflections are not good enough”.
Later that day, Swans chairman Andrew Pridham and Pavlich apologised and took full responsibility for their club’s tribute to the victims of the Bondi terror attack.
The AFL was contacted for comment on Monday.
Rabbi Litzman told this masthead the Swans had made the Jewish community emergency medical response group feel welcome.
“I want to thank the Swans for welcoming us in and making us feel really welcome and special. We had survivors there as well [at the game] and we had those children there as well that were affected by it and some children that no longer have parents,” he said.
“They [the Swans] were extremely welcoming and so very, very nice to us, and we thank them from the bottom of our heart, and it meant a lot to us and to everybody … they treated us like VIPs, and it was very nice to welcome us into the locker room after the game as well.
“We only had praise for the Swans, so what they did was definitely above and beyond what we expected. They provided kosher food, and they literally went above and beyond.”
He deflected any questions about the specific wording of the script.
“I don’t really have anything [to say] to be honest. We only have praise for the Swans, I’m not getting involved in what was said and what wasn’t said,” he said.
“We didn’t feel any of that on the day. We felt very loved and welcomed and grateful that they honoured the victims and the survivors and they honoured the first responders.”
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Speaking at a pre-match function ahead of the Swans’ win over the Brisbane Lions on Saturday night, Pridham said three-time Swans best and fairest and a former Brownlow medallist Gerard Healy had alerted him to the omission of the Jewish community.
“This was not intentional, we apologise for this omission. It was a Sydney Swans initiative, and a Swans-led event, and we take full responsibility,” Pridham said.
“The tribute was a genuine attempt to show compassion to everyone impacted by the terrible events on 14 December – and most of all the Jewish community.”
Pridham and the Swans were contacted for comment on Monday.
Paterson said the facts about the tribute had to be established.
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“Counsel assisting must have the opportunity to review the documents and cross-examine any potential witnesses to establish the facts in relation to this serious incident,” he said.
“While the Sydney Swans chairman has apologised to the Jewish community, the reported involvement of AFL staff in this incident should be closely examined as part of the commission’s inquiries into the nature and prevalence of antisemitism in Australia.”
