Former Australian cricket great Michael Slater pleaded not guilty in Noosa Magistrates Court on Tuesday to one charge of assaulting police and two counts of obstructing police.
Slater appeared alone in court with Magistrate Chris Callaghan acknowledging a letter sent on Slater’s behalf by his Toowoomba-based lawyer who requested bail for his client and a two month adjournment to review the case.
The magistrate agreed with the request ordering bail at Slater’s own undertaking and a return to face court in Noosa on 4 July.
Outside the courthouse Slater told waiting media he would fight the charges, before opening up about his battle with mental health, saying it was the first time he had spoken publicly in two years.
Slater, 53, was arrested a month ago after police were called to a home in Noosa.
“It was a misunderstanding. Police were doing their job,“ Slater said.
When asked how he was, Slater replied he was “going very well“ but had a “dip“ a month ago.
“It’s been a very positive move for me coming up to this part of the world,“ he said.
“But unfortunately about a month ago I had a dip which was triggered by a few personal matters.
“It was just a mental health dip for me. I’m back on track and hopefully will get this sort of stuff in the past and get on to better things.
“I’ve worked so hard with my mental health. It’s been an ongoing battle for a number of years. I’ve lost a lot in the last couple of years.“
When asked if he thought enough was said about the mental health of professional sports people Slater said there was a lot of conversation about it but the difficulty was what people did with it.
“I’ll get asked a lot how are you travelling and I obviously see a lot of professionals and that’s where my confidence, all the things I open up about go, in the professional world.
“If you’re asked how you’re going, if you say, I’m not travelling really well, it’s really hard for that person whether it’s a family member, a friend or stranger to know what to do.
“There’s a lot of channels out there for those who suffer but when you’re in the pit of mental health it takes a lot of motivation to get up and get out that door and seek mental health, sometimes you do need that intervention, someone dragging you.“
Slater said he thought the world was moving in the right way but there were still a lot of gaps that could be filled.
He denied the cricket world had ostracised him, saying if anyone had ostracised themselves it was him.
“It’s been highly embarrassing I suppose on a personal level to undergo everything that’s happened,“ he said.
“I’ve made some mistakes. I think there have been some improves as well. I’ve been fighting hard to get on top of things.
“LIfe’s not easy but I’ve got three beautiful kids, that’s where I’m focused. I’m looking for a job.“
Slater placed himself among other professional sports people who had struggled after retirement.
“Certainly retired sports people, there’s a list that have struggled in retirement,“ he said.
“Not that my retirement was a bad. I was working in TV for 20 years, then it all snowballed.“
The former batsman was part of the Australian cricket team from 1993 to 2001, playing 74 Tests.
He then forged a career as a high-profile cricket commentator that ended in 2021.
