“Vote No” Says Mrs Hanson’s Fish & Chip Shop – Peter Smith


In September 2017, during the time of the postal plebiscite on same-sex marriage (SSM), I wrote a blog for Quadrant on corporate support for the proposal. Unsurprisingly, Alan Joyce figured prominently. My theme: Corporate entities are artifacts. They have no mind of their own. Yet Joyce reportedly said, “I think it is very important for our employees, customers and our shareholders, and that is why Qantas is a supporter of marriage equality.” Qantas, you see, not Joyce personally.

At the time Joyce had responsibility to run an airline. Simply put, to transport people from one point to another in a timely and safe manner. No part of the airline’s business model encompassed the sexual goings-on of consenting adults. So where in the world did Joyce get authority to speak on such matters on behalf of the artefact; in this case, Qantas?

The artifact can’t speak for itself. To wit, Pauline Hanson’s fish and chip shop couldn’t at the time raise objections to women wearing burkas in Parliament House. And to the credit of Ms Hanson, she never claimed that it did. Seem ridiculous to imagine a fish and chip shop having a view? It’s instructive. Because, in fact, it’s no more ridiculous than Qantas having a view. Don’t let size fool you.

Up to date and true to form, Joyce, ventriloquist extraordinaire, had Qantas supporting the Voice. Qantas is not alone. According to Wikipedia, numbers of local councils, sporting bodies and clubs, churches and religious organisations, and public companies, have from somewhere found a voice and expressed their support for the Yes-case. I don’t believe that any of the movers and shakers behind these bodies have canvassed their ratepayers, or members, or congregants, or shareholders. But even if they had, they would need 100 percent support. That is simply because each of these bodies is operating outside of its remit.

People don’t pay rates to authorise their council to be party to the social engineering fad of the day or to have a view on a constitutional change remote from the business of councils; which, let’s recall, is to maintain roads, parks, local amenities and collect garbage. Equally, people who join sporting clubs are interested in participating in, or supporting, their sporting code or simply socialising. People attending church are interested in worshiping God; and, I can attest, have quite different views on the topics of the day. Those buying shares are interested in the financial performance of the companies in question and in obtaining dividends. Speaking up, let alone gifting funds, to support this or that unrelated social-cum-political cause is not any part of the deal.

Those in leadership positions don’t have carte blanche to do whatever they fancy in the name of the body they represent. Unfortunately, that’s not generally appreciated in today’s cockeyed world. For instance, bank boards have decided not to finance hydrocarbon projects. Apparently, they have become, without reference to their shareholders, guardians of planet Earth. Super heroes. And you thought that banks just accepted deposits, lent money and provided lousy service.


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Rabz
September 16, 2023 9:39 pm

The toxic blatantly corrupt homosexual leprechaun has enabled me to cast off my quaintarse silver lounge privileges, my many FFP and everything else.

I will never fly quaintarse again.

Grate work, leprechaun.

Rosie
Rosie
September 17, 2023 7:22 am

I had this discussion with a former Liberal MP.
Corporations are not the replacement for churches (he claimed they were), and politics are not the new theology on which CEOs instruct the faithful shareholder.

Dot
Dot
September 17, 2023 7:55 am

Corporations ARE the replacement for churches and politics ARE the new theology on which CEOs instruct the faithful shareholder.

Only a weird cult member could believe this. However I suffered under a cult leader like this CEO during COIVID.

If this is the “calibre” of LNP candidates and MPs we are well and truly stuffed.

Vagabond
Vagabond
September 17, 2023 8:17 am

Is there a website that lists the virtue signaling companies such as BHP and the like that have misspent shareholders’ funds in donations to the Yes case? I have never voted at corporate AGMs before but since the Voice I have started to do so* to disallow Directors remuneration and vote against their reinstatement. There’s a strong need for shareholder activism in this way.

*I don’t have shares in Quaintarse

wal1957
wal1957
September 17, 2023 8:32 am

Dot…”If this is the “calibre” of LNP candidates and MPs we are well and truly stuffed.”

There are a few exceptions Dot but even if my local candidate was one of those exceptions I still could not vote for him/her. The liberal party as a whole is no more than a slightly less putrid version of the Liebor/Green party at this moment in time.
Stupid f’n Liberals.
I will continue to vote for one of the minor conservative parties.

Entropy
Entropy
September 17, 2023 8:33 am

Rosie
Sep 17, 2023 7:22 AM
I had this discussion with a former Liberal MP.
Corporations are not the replacement for churches (he claimed they were), and politics are not the new theology on which CEOs instruct the faithful shareholder

You should have asked the pillock if they could see corporations replacing the nation state

areff
areff
September 17, 2023 8:33 am

we are well and truly stuffed.

Nah, what we’ve seen so far — lockdowns, rubber bullets, bent coppers, hack judges, fauxborigines, banks spurning cash, media morons… — is just foreplay.

Lie back, think of what Australia used to be, and be grateful for your plate of bugs in a blacked-out kitchen.

Tom
Tom
September 17, 2023 8:44 am

Well said, Peter Smith. Unfortunately, it is to a few thousand people reading a blog unheard by the headless zombies who run business and government in this country.

PS: if voting could change anything, it would be illegal.

Vicki
Vicki
September 17, 2023 11:56 am

Great post, Peter. This should be published in the commentary page of a national newspaper. I doubt if it would please the seemingly new editorial policy of the Oz – but it worth a try.

The partisan posturing of the heads of organisations today is outrageous. It is about time we all start to call them them out.

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
September 17, 2023 1:19 pm

Galatians 3:28 seems pretty clear.

There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (NIV)

So is Animal Farm, which means we have guidance from Christianity and guidance from an atheist, ie George Orwell. Vote No. Do not divide people by the colour of their skin. Everyone is equal before God, we too should therefore treat everyone in our country as equals.

Damon
Damon
September 17, 2023 4:31 pm

Voice activists might get a bit more credibility if they went back to wearing loincloths and stamping their feet in the dirt. Fortunately Langton and the other harridans woulldn’t get a look in.

Speedbox
September 17, 2023 5:08 pm

Great post Peter. Couldn’t agree more.

Enyaw
Enyaw
September 18, 2023 2:57 am

BTW, Councils/Shires etc were originally formed to fill in potholes and register dogs ! NOW look at the power mongering .

2dogs
2dogs
September 18, 2023 6:07 pm

Corporations should be required to designate whether they are political organisations or not. If not, they should not make public political comments. If yes, full AEC disclosure of all finances

Robert Sewell
September 18, 2023 6:45 pm

2Dogs:

Corporations should be required to designate whether they are political organisations or not. If not, they should not make public political comments. If yes, full AEC disclosure of all finances

I don’t see any evidence they are a political organisation. Therefore if they continue to speak on a political matter, they are operating outside their remit. End of Story.

Robert Sewell
September 18, 2023 6:50 pm

2 Dogs:
I hit the “Take that” button a little too quickly.
If a Hospital/Health Service isn’t allowed to proselytise about region, it only stands to reason they are not allowed to proselytise about any social activity.
Proselytism is the policy of attempting to convert people’s religious or political beliefs. Carrying out attempts to instill beliefs can be called proselytization. And yet, aren’t many/most of our institutions doing precisely this?

Old Goat
Old Goat
September 19, 2023 10:29 am

NGO’s have been able to get away with a lot of shenanigans and their power runs deep . Sketchy or no oversight and access everywhere . Hedge funds have allowed control of huge resources (including media) to be controlled by ruthless egotists . Christian religions now stand for nothing and fall for anything . Follow the money .

Fair Shake
Fair Shake
September 19, 2023 1:08 pm

Qantas and any large organisation of similar ilk should be required to declare their political party leanings (donations) on their website, their facilities and anywhere they advertise, …So that it is clear as a customer if you support this company, you are defacto supporting this political group.

Its a double edged sword if you wish to play in the political arena.

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