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The managing director of Vodafone Australia could be jailed for six months
for giving the loose go-ahead to a prankster who bared everything, including
the company logo, in a pitch invasion at the Bledisloe Cup.
Graham Maher said yesterday he told one of the match's two streakers that
Vodafone would pay any costs incurred by a publicity stunt at the match.
``I said, `Yes, we will support you'. How we handle this I don't know,
because we don't condone illegal activity," said Mr Maher, who would not rule
out paying the streakers' fines, which could be up to $5000.
``We had a call from a guy with an idea. We apologise for the outcome."
Police are seeking legal advice on whether payment of the fines could further
implicate the company. Superintendent Allan Wilson said: ``There are
appropriate laws and penalties for anyone who incites or encourages criminal
offences."
Mr Maher said he took responsibility for the incident, but insisted he did
not know the nature of the prank because Vodafone, as official sponsor of the
Wallabies, had many stunts organised for the night. A promotions company, Love,
had placed many photographers around the stadium as part of a series of gimmicks
to push Vodafone. But the company denied it came up with the idea of a streak.
Aaron Bain, 25, a New Zealander, said his decision to streak came from a dare
from Brett Mutton, 22, a panel operator for Sky television news.
He said Mutton, who has been charged with indecent exposure, assured him
late last week that Vodafone would pay any fines.
But Mr Bain said that while Vodafone knew there was a risk of a fine, ``they
didn't know what we were going to do".
``I think if they realised what we were going to do they wouldn't have
allowed us to do it. They just thought we were going to do an advertising thing
on the field for them. They didn't even know we were painted. We painted each
other."
The prank came as a shock for Mr Bain's family, who watched the game on
television in his hometown of Otago.
``Yeah, Mum, Dad, Nanna, Grandad [saw the streak]. Mum said she recognised
that butt from about 20-odd years ago running around the loungeroom."
Mr Bain, who has vowed never to repeat such a stunt, was given an
infringement notice for his part in the stunt.
The Australian Rugby Union has called for greater financial penalties for
pitch invaders. However, its general manager of commercial operations, Brian
Thorburn, said the body's relationship with Vodafone had not been affected by
the incident.
``In this instance there has been an error of judgement in relation to a
promotion and we have accepted an apology in that regard."
Love's director, Monique Haylen, said the streak, which had generated ``an
amazing amount of publicity", might spark a new trend of guerilla marketing.
Superintendent Wilson said any fines imposed would be aimed at detering
similar stunts. * Vodafone confirmed yesterday that it had sacked 39 per cent of
its technology staff. The firm axed 181 technology jobs as part of its drive to
cut costs, and now has 285 technology staff.
* Moir's view Page 10
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