Singtel Optus failed World Cup coverage: A case of Optus chairman pursuing a personal agenda at the cost of core business-Will minority shareholders pursue Singtel in Australia ?
And,it is not as if Singtel-Optus was not warned to keep its eye fixed on its business, and not wander off into
political debate, which was at the time justified on business grounds.
Excerpt
Corporations have also been advised that “putting the acid” on Mr Turnbull politically over same-sex marriage will be counter-productive for business and will damage his leadership as he is wanting to concentrate on energy and the economy.
The government has already been critical of business leaders for not showing the way in public debate on company tax reform, industrial relations, penalty rates, energy and trade.
One senior executive of a major corporation involved in the process told The Australian yesterday that the corporate campaign on same-sex marriage had raised concerns about responsibility to shareholders and boards, could be seen as “corporate bullying” of smaller companies and neglected economic priorities.
In April last year, Telstra was caught in a marketing fight when it announced support for same-sex marriage then had to withdraw it when shareholders and major customers, such as the Catholic and Anglican churches, complained.
Telstra chief executive Andy Penn then publicly changed Telstra’s position. Mr Penn is listed in the letter going to the Prime Minister as the Telstra chief, but the letter says the business, industry and community leaders are writing “in our personal capacity in support of marriage equality”.
The senior executive, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the intense preparations for the letter had included a complicated “telephone tree” and “buddy system” of chief executives, with specific business leaders being assigned colleagues to convince, but said it was possible some chiefs of smaller organisations or suppliers might have felt bullied. “Instead of a corporate buddy system, it could look like a corporate bully system when a bigger corporation wanted the CEO of a smaller corporation to sign up, especially if they were a supplier,” the executive said.
Sparks fly as chiefs tell Turnbull ‘marriage equality good for business’
A marcher holds a Malcolm Turnbull poster during a marriage equality rally in Canberra last year. Picture: Ellen Smith
Malcolm Turnbull has stuck by his party’s policy of holding a gay marriage plebiscite after 20 corporate chief executives personally signed a letter in an attempt to force him to legislate same-sex marriage “in the near term”.
“Our policy is very well known, which we took to the election, is that there should be a plebiscite on the issue first,” the Prime Minister said.
“The Labor Party has frustrated that by opposing it in the Senate and this despite the fact that Mr Shorten only three years ago gave his very public and vocal support for a plebiscite, which would give every Australian a say on the matter.”
The comments show Mr Turnbull is in no mind to change the government’s policy, despite some pressure within his ranks to revive the issue. — Rosie Lewis
‘Politically correct nonsense’
Immigration Minister Peter Dutton has urged CEOs to stop shoving “politically correct nonsense down our throats” and focus on running their businesses, after 20 heads of some of the nation’s biggest companies urged Malcolm Turnbull to legislate for same-sex marriage.
The letter comes after LGBTI activists boycotted a Coopers brewery-sponsored Bible Society video which depicted gay Liberal MP Tim Wilson and his friend and colleague Andrew Hastie discussing their opposing views on same-sex marriage.
In a letter being prepared to be sent to Mr Turnbull before parliament resumes next week, obtained by The Australian, 20 business leaders from banks, finance companies, legal teams, Telstra, Optus, Qantas, Apple, Amex, Holden, accountancy firms and sporting bodies urge him “to legislate for marriage equality so the government can get on with its core economic agenda”.
Mr Dutton described the move as “bizarre” and an “outrage”.
“The CEOs would be better off out there arguing at the moment for the economy to be run a particular way or for tax to be reformed in this way so that people grow their businesses and grow jobs as opposed to taking on these moral causes,” he told 2GB.
“If they want to run for politics, well resign from their position and stick their hand up at the next election but don’t jam your politically correct views down our throats.
“Some of these CEOs who are doing the wrong thing, who are part of campaigns to criticise companies like Coopers and others frankly need to be publicly shamed and I think people frankly are getting sick of all this politically correct nonsense.”
Mr Dutton gave the example of Telstra, saying he had experienced problems with his home phone last week.
“I lead a fairly busy life and the thought of hanging on the phone for an hour to some person in the Philippines and still getting nowhere at the end of the call drives me crazy.
“Now here’s a suggestion for Telstra: instead of getting caught up and spending your investors’ money, your shareholders’ money on all these political causes, what about tidying up your own back yard first and providing a proper standard of care and service to your customers?
“That actually would be a good starting point. Once all that’s done then if you’ve got time on your hands you can concentrate on all these fringe issues.”
“If people want to enter politics then do that, but don’t do it from the office overlooking the harbour on your multi-million dollar fees each year.
“It’s high time these people pulled back from these moralistic stances and we’d be a better society without them.”
The same-sex marriage lobby hit back, saying all Australians should be free to voice their views and lobby politicians, including business leaders.
National campaigner for just.equal, Ivan Hinton-Teoh said many CEOs recognised the importance of equality for their employees and customers and had a right to represent that to law-makers.
“It’s not appropriate for a government minister to attempt to shut down views he doesn’t agree with,” he said.
“The freedom to discuss issues of public concern is a freedom we all hold dear. The country has been debating marriage equality for more than 13 years. In that time every other English speaking western nation has had the debate, achieved the reform and moved on.
“In the absence of political movement on marriage equality it’s only right that community members who find themselves in positions of power and influence use it to raise the issue, standing with the majority of Australians who wish the reform to pass.”
Mr Hinton-Teoh said support from some of the largest corporations in the United States had been critical in advancing the campaign for marriage equality.
“Each of us have a role to play in championing for the rights of LGBTI Australians to achieve the dignity, respect and equal legal treatment other citizens already enjoy,” he said.
“I welcome the support of some of Australia’s most respected corporate leaders. With their support the lives of countless Australians will be improved.”
Marriage equality splits CEOs
A split is emerging within corporate Australia as 20 chief executives from some of the nation’s biggest companies try to force Malcolm Turnbull to legislate for same-sex marriage “in the near term”.
The campaign from business leaders to bring in same-sex marriage laws threatens to open an explosive new political front for the Prime Minister, who faces a divisive debate next week within the Liberal Party over changes to the Racial Discrimination Act.
Conservative Liberal MPs are also angry about a boycott of Coopers beer by same-sex marriage advocates, which has politically linked the issue of freedom of speech with racial discrimination and same-sex marriage.
Mr Turnbull’s position on same-sex marriage is that the Senate rejection of the government’s policy of a plebiscite spells the end of the issue for now, but some Liberal MPs are still agitating to revive the issue.
In a letter being prepared to be sent to Mr Turnbull before parliament resumes next week, obtained by The Australian, 20 business leaders from banks, finance companies, legal teams, Telstra, Optus, Qantas, Apple, Amex, Holden, accountancy firms and sporting bodies urge him “to legislate for marriage equality so the government can get on with its core economic agenda”.
“Enabling loving, committed couples to be married, regardless of their sexual orientation, will contribute to a stronger economy and a more inclusive Australia,” the final draft of the appeal circulating through corporate Australia says. The letter, being finalised as Coopers Brewery was forced to distance itself from a Bible Society video showing a debate on same-sex marriage, also alludes to customers becoming more “discerning” and selective about “products and services from companies that better represent their values”.
There is also a warning that “corporate social responsibility” is becoming a “critical factor” to a growing number of global investors and capital markets.
While the ANZ and CBA banks, SBS and Telstra, Apple and IBM, Lendlease, AGL Energy, the Business Council of Australia, KPMG, PricewaterhouseCoopers and Wesfarmers chiefs are listed on the letter asking Mr Turnbull to abandon the plebiscite policy, other companies have refused to back the push.
Some executives believe corporate Australia should be seen to be championing economic priorities for business, want to avoid conflicts with customers and their boards, and are uncomfortable with the chief executives of bigger companies lobbying the heads of smaller companies that supply them with goods and services.
Corporations have also been advised that “putting the acid” on Mr Turnbull politically over same-sex marriage will be counter-productive for business and will damage his leadership as he is wanting to concentrate on energy and the economy.
The government has already been critical of business leaders for not showing the way in public debate on company tax reform, industrial relations, penalty rates, energy and trade.
One senior executive of a major corporation involved in the process told The Australian yesterday that the corporate campaign on same-sex marriage had raised concerns about responsibility to shareholders and boards, could be seen as “corporate bullying” of smaller companies and neglected economic priorities.
In April last year, Telstra was caught in a marketing fight when it announced support for same-sex marriage then had to withdraw it when shareholders and major customers, such as the Catholic and Anglican churches, complained.
Telstra chief executive Andy Penn then publicly changed Telstra’s position. Mr Penn is listed in the letter going to the Prime Minister as the Telstra chief, but the letter says the business, industry and community leaders are writing “in our personal capacity in support of marriage equality”.
The senior executive, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the intense preparations for the letter had included a complicated “telephone tree” and “buddy system” of chief executives, with specific business leaders being assigned colleagues to convince, but said it was possible some chiefs of smaller organisations or suppliers might have felt bullied. “Instead of a corporate buddy system, it could look like a corporate bully system when a bigger corporation wanted the CEO of a smaller corporation to sign up, especially if they were a supplier,” the executive said.
The letter says same-sex marriage laws would be good for employees, business and customers and warned that consumers “are becoming more discerning and are selecting products and services from companies that better represent their values”. It also said it would be good for Australia because an inclusive reputation “helps to attract international talent and foreign investment”.
The 20 include chief executives Andrew Vesey, of AGL Energy; Shayne Elliot, ANZ; Ann Sherry, Carnival; Ian Narev, CBA; Steve McCann, Lendlease; Luke Sayers, PwC; Alan Joyce, Qantas; Tracey Fellows, REA Group; and Richard Goyder, Wesfarmers.
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