Is some semblance of rationality making a comeback in corporate Australia? From ‘Rainbow’ poovery to Climate Cultism, there hasn’t been a far-left bandwagon that they haven’t jumped on, boots and all. The string of go-woke-go-broke failures in the US have done nothing to alert these woke cretins to the fact that everyone except Cressida Hyphenated-Surname on TikTok is seething in silent fury.
So corporate Australia got one hell of a wake-up call when they threw their weight – and in many cases their shareholders’ money – behind the ‘Voice’ referendum. As has been observed, the referendum was perhaps the first direct democratic vote on wokeism (at least, until the 2024 US Presidential election) – and the people said ‘Hell, no’ in the loudest possible voice.
At least some CEOs seem to have got the message. Sort of.
Qantas chair John Mullen has warned companies to be wary of becoming involved in actively supporting social causes such as the indigenous voice to parliament.
In an interview with the Australian ahead of a keynote speech to the Australian Institute of Company Directors on Tuesday, Mr Mullen, who took over as Qantas chair last year, said corporate Australia “did itself no favours” in actively campaigning for the voice.
Because Australians saw it for exactly what it was: yet another cabal of out-of-touch elites finger-wagging the silent majority from on high.
“A lot of people saw corporate Australia lecturing them on what they should think (about the voice),” he said. “I think that’s where we (corporate Australia) made the mistake.
“Not that we supported the actual cause, but how we did it. How we lectured to people.”
OK, so he hasn’t fully got the message. It was the fact that corporations abused their wealth and power to go beyond their rightful mission – making money for shareholders – and try to act as social engineers. So, yes, supporting the cause pissed people off, too.
Qantas received a backlash in some quarters for its active campaign for the voice under then chief executive Alan Joyce, who decided to paint some of its planes with the word “Yes” to support the campaign.
Mr Joyce unveiled the “Yes” logo at an event during the campaign with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
“I wasn’t at Qantas at the time, so I don’t think it’s my job to comment,” Mr Mullen said.
“I was at Telstra at the time and we supported the voice.
“But we debated it extensively.”
Oh, I’m sure. No doubt Tarquin Fingleby-Dingbat was all for racial separatism in the Constitution, while Phoebe Uppington-Teal denied that it was even racial separatism at all.
Mr Mullen said there was a difference between a company expressing its opinion on an issue and “actively campaigning” on it. He said it would have been “equally damaging” if companies had chosen to campaign against the voice.
Well, here’s a startling thought: just shut the fuck up and concentrate on making money, you elite gobshites.
He said companies these days often had to have a view on many social issues of the day.
“It is no longer possible not to get involved (in social issues of the day).
“In days gone by, you would just say ‘it’s a matter for government, and we’re not going to comment’.
“Employees want to know what the company stands for.”
Ten bucks says they literally don’t. Apart from the blue-haired communications graduate in HR, that is. Everyone else who works for you just wants to collect their paycheck, go home, watch the footy and not be browbeaten by some arsehole in a suit on a six-figure salary.
Oh, and scrap the exasperating garbage of ‘Welcome to Country’ on every single damn flight.
