“They Shouldn’t Shove their Views Down our Throats”: Australian Lawmaker Rails Against Politicking CEOs

Australian Immigration Minister Peter Dutton doesn't want the likes of Apple or Qantas talking about "fringe issues" like gay marriage.
Immigration Minister Peter Dutton

While American CEOs ponder whether to air their views on controversial topics such as immigration and gun control, one lawmaker Down Under certainly hasn’t minced his words while giving his business cohorts some advice.

CEOs should essentially keep their mouths shut, was the lowdown from Australian Immigration Minister Peter Dutton, who slammed leaders of companies including Apple, IBM and Qantas Airways during a fiery interview on Sydney radio this morning.

“If people want to enter politics, then do that, but don’t do it from the office overlooking the harbor on multi-million dollar fees each year,” Dutton said. “I just think its high time these people pulled back from these moralistic stances and we’d be a better society without them.”

The issue in question in this particular instance was same-sex marriage, which is still illegal in Australia. The ruling conservative Liberal-National coalition is divided on the issue, though the more right-leaning faction of the party has successfully stifled a parliamentary vote.

“SPEND MORE TIME TALKING ABOUT HARD BUSINESS TOPICS AND STOP JAMMING YOUR POLITICALLY CORRECT VIEWS DOWN OUR THROATS.”

Dutton’s outburst came after The Australian newspaper said it had obtained a draft letter signed by 20 business leaders urging prime minister Malcolm Turnbull to legalize same-sex marriage. “Enabling loving, committed couples to be married, regardless of their sexual orientation, will contribute to a stronger economy and a more inclusive Australia,” the letter reportedly states.

The leaders also claimed that customers are being more discerning about products and services that “better represent their values”, while warning that corporate social responsibility is a growing concern for big international investors.

Dutton argued that CEOs should spend more time talking about hard business topics such as tax reform, indicating that he disagrees that controversial issues affecting minority groups were particularly relevant to business performance and economic prosperity.

“If they want to run for politics, well, resign from their position, stick their hand up at the next election, but don’t jam your politically correct views down our throats,” he said. “I think there needs to be, frankly, a shot across their bow at the moment.”

He singled out Telstra, the country’s largest telecom, suggesting that CEO Andy Penn should focus more on customer service than “fringe issues”.

“My view of Telstra is that they’d be better off to concentrate their efforts on cleaning up their call center operations, because we had a problem with our phone at home last week; now, like you, I lead a fairly busy life, 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,” he said.

Australian LGBT rights activists have noted that pressure from American CEOs, including Amazon’s Jeff Bezos and Starbucks’ Howard Schultz, helped lead to same-sex marriage being legalized in the U.S. It also is now legal in more than 20 countries, including the UK, Canada, New Zealand, Ireland, France, Spain and Mexico.

Signatories to the letter include Penn, Qantas’ Alan Joyce, who is openly gay, and the local heads of Apple, IBM, KMPG and PwC. Other participants include the CEOs of two of the country’s biggest banks, Commonwealth Bank of Australia and Australia & New Zealand Banking Group, and one of its biggest retailers, Wesfarmers.


MORE LIKE THIS

  • Get the CEO Briefing

    Sign up today to get weekly access to the latest issues affecting CEOs in every industry
  • upcoming events

    Roundtable

    Strategic Planning Workshop

    1:00 - 5:00 pm

    Over 70% of Executives Surveyed Agree: Many Strategic Planning Efforts Lack Systematic Approach Tips for Enhancing Your Strategic Planning Process

    Executives expressed frustration with their current strategic planning process. Issues include:

    1. Lack of systematic approach (70%)
    2. Laundry lists without prioritization (68%)
    3. Decisions based on personalities rather than facts and information (65%)

     

    Steve Rutan and Denise Harrison have put together an afternoon workshop that will provide the tools you need to address these concerns.  They have worked with hundreds of executives to develop a systematic approach that will enable your team to make better decisions during strategic planning.  Steve and Denise will walk you through exercises for prioritizing your lists and steps that will reset and reinvigorate your process.  This will be a hands-on workshop that will enable you to think about your business as you use the tools that are being presented.  If you are ready for a Strategic Planning tune-up, select this workshop in your registration form.  The additional fee of $695 will be added to your total.

    To sign up, select this option in your registration form. Additional fee of $695 will be added to your total.

    New York, NY: ​​​Chief Executive's Corporate Citizenship Awards 2017

    Women in Leadership Seminar and Peer Discussion

    2:00 - 5:00 pm

    Female leaders face the same issues all leaders do, but they often face additional challenges too. In this peer session, we will facilitate a discussion of best practices and how to overcome common barriers to help women leaders be more effective within and outside their organizations. 

    Limited space available.

    To sign up, select this option in your registration form. Additional fee of $495 will be added to your total.

    Golf Outing

    10:30 - 5:00 pm
    General’s Retreat at Hermitage Golf Course
    Sponsored by UBS

    General’s Retreat, built in 1986 with architect Gary Roger Baird, has been voted the “Best Golf Course in Nashville” and is a “must play” when visiting the Nashville, Tennessee area. With the beautiful setting along the Cumberland River, golfers of all capabilities will thoroughly enjoy the golf, scenery and hospitality.

    The golf outing fee includes transportation to and from the hotel, greens/cart fees, use of practice facilities, and boxed lunch. The bus will leave the hotel at 10:30 am for a noon shotgun start and return to the hotel after the cocktail reception following the completion of the round.

    To sign up, select this option in your registration form. Additional fee of $295 will be added to your total.