BHP chair Ken MacKenzie defends $2m donation in support of the Voice

The chair of Australia’s biggest miner has defended the company’s $2m donation in support of the Voice to Parliament.

The chair of Australia’s biggest mining firm has defended the company’s decision to donate $2m in support of the Voice to Parliament, saying there were “clear business reasons” for backing constitutional change.

Ken MacKenzie, speaking at BHP’s annual general meeting in Adelaide on Wednesday, said the controversial donation aligned with the company’s social value framework and Global Indigenous Peoples Strategy.

“We operate on the traditional lands of Indigenous peoples,” he said.

“These are critical relationships.”

Mr MacKenzie said partnering with Indigenous people was a crucial step in starting new projects and expanding existing projects across its global spread of mines.

BHP chair Ken MacKenzie said there were ‘clear business reasons’ for the company to back the proposed Voice to Parliament. Picture: Supplied

The chair, speaking before shareholders, said the donation was part of a social investment strategy that was integral to the creation of long-term shareholder value.

Australia recorded a 60 per cent No vote against the Voice, which would have embedded a permanent Indigenous-led advisory body into the Constitution.

Other large-scale corporate actors backed the Voice, including Qantas, Canva and Wesfarmers.

Nationals Leader David Littleproud, speaking on referendum night on October 14, criticised the intrusion of the country’s corporate sector into the debate.

“There is a very big lesson here for corporate Australia and for our sporting fraternity. They don’t determine the moral compass of this country, they should stay out if it,” he said.

“Australians don’t like to be told what to do.”

Nationals Leader David Littleproud criticised the intrusion of corporate Australia in the Voice to Parliament debate. Picture: Supplied

In Australia, BHP operates coalmines in Queensland and NSW, iron ore mines in Western Australia and copper mines in South Australia.

Mr MacKenzie told shareholders that supporting Indigenous recognition and a Voice had been company policy since 2015 and 2019 respectively.

“This is not new for BHP,” he said.

He said the decision to donate the money had come from management and the board had been informed beforehand.

Mr MacKenzie said BHP respected the result of the referendum.

He said the company would continue to progress its reconciliation action plan developed in partnership with Indigenous Australians and would incorporate Indigenous perspectives and knowledge into its operations.

Originally published as BHP chair Ken MacKenzie defends $2m donation in support of the Voice