Airline bosses refusing to be silenced on social issues
QANTAS Airways chief Alan Joyce says he will continue to speak out on social issues despite the federal government’s warning to big business to stick to corporate matters.
Speaking at the National Press Club with Virgin Australia chief Paul Scurrah yesterday, Mr Joyce said it was the role of business to shine a light on social as well as corporate issues.
“We’re not going to pull back on what we say on social issues, because that’s important to employees, customers and shareholders,” Mr Joyce said. “Eighty per cent of Generations Y and Z say they want to work for a company that has a social conscience.
“To get talent you need to be out there on social issues.”
His comments come after the Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister, Ben Morton, last week lashed business for campaigning on social issues rather than on economic and business matters.
Mr Morton said corporate leaders should expect no favours from the government unless they were at the forefront of selling how businessfriendly policies would improve the lives of “quiet Australians”.
Mr Joyce has taken a highprofile stand on issues such as same-sex marriage, the Uluru Statement from the Heart and climate change and he said that would continue.
“But at the same time we’re out there also talking on economic issues,” Mr Joyce said.
“I hosted a press conference with Scott Morrison and Mathias Cormann with a Qantas aircraft behind us promoting (corporate) tax cuts.
“You have to do both, and good companies will do both.
“Companies that don’t, I don’t think as a CEO you’re doing your job.”
Mr Scurrah, who has maintained a relatively low profile since taking on the role of Virgin chief in March, said companies had an obligation to use their brand to support important issues.
“We have a powerful brand, it’s bigger than an Australian airline, and of course Virgin is a very strong pusher of a lot of causes around the world, particularly around the environment, around mental health,” Mr Scurrah said. “You will hear us use our brand to push whatever cause we think needs to be pushed at that time.”