Australian Retailers Association says a major retailer used PA system to spread messages about the Voice

A major retailer has come under fire for a move to convince customers to vote Yes in the upcoming Voice to Parliament referendum.

Radio host Tony Jones has blown up at a major Aussie retailer who used their PA system to spread messages about the Voice to Parliament. In an interview on 3AW this morning with Paul Zahra, CEO of the Australian Retailers Association, Zahra and Jones discussed the aggression that some retailers are facing from customers as a result of displaying Yes posters in their windows.

Zahra said the aggression is “wide and varied” before claiming one major retailer was making announcements over a PA system about the referendum, “in trying to bring attention”. He didn’t say which retailer it was. “They may have gone one step maybe too far because they got negative customer feedback,” Zahra admitted, before Jones slammed the move.

“I find that completely unacceptable that somebody was using the PA system in whatever store it was to make a political statement. I mean, seriously?” Jones said, outraged. Zahra then replied that it’s a social issue, adding that he wasn’t condoning the action. “I don’t think it was appropriate. I think the retailer involved has accepted that, they pulled it pretty quickly,” he said.

The referendum will take place on October 14, with enrolment having closed at 8pm last night. Picture: ABC News.

Further discussing the aggression retailers are facing, Zahra said that it’s reminiscent of the pandemic and its infamous “toilet paper grabs”.

“It’s off the back of the amount of customer aggression that we’re experiencing in stores right now and the Voice has added to the current issues that we’re experiencing,” he said.

“We did believe that during Covid that whilst it was unacceptable it was understandable – there was a lot of pressure and anxiety. But that aggression has continued,” Zahra added, mentioning there have been high levels of retail crime, and that some stores have been targeted. “The bigger issue here really is around the abusive behaviour towards retailers displaying the Yes campaign within their windows. They’re particularly getting targeted and that’s impacting the mental health of the individuals that work in those stores.”

The Australian Retailers Association last week called for tougher penalties to be introduced in Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, Tasmania and the ACT against people who assault retail workers.

It launched an information campaign for the retail sector about the referendum, including an online resource with frequently asked questions about the context and history of the vote, and links to educational resources.

“Our campaign is definitely not about telling people how to vote, that’s not our job, but it’s certainly about making sure they can make an informed decision,” Zahra said. Once Zahra was no longer on air, Jones continued on, saying that Zahra had “hit the nail on the head” in one respect. “It shows how potent this has become when you’ve got one particular outlet with someone on the PA system, espousing some sort of view, be it political, social, whatever you want to call it,” he told listeners. “If that’s not inciting unrest, I don’t know what is.

“I think if any employer or owner of a business is putting a Yes poster or a No poster on the front window, then I’m sorry, but you’re sort of asking for trouble.

“It’s so divisive, this, and I come back to what I said to Paul. It’s a very personal thing. Just like any voting system is.”

Thousands gathered for a ‘Walk For Yes’ event in Sydney over the weekend. Picture: Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images.

Zahra said retailers have a long history of activism, to which Jones responded that he may be placing a target on his back. “If I’m still to make a decision as to which way I’ll be voting in the referendum, I’m not going to be guided by somebody who works in a retail store … I just worry you’re making a rod for your own back by buying into this,” Jones said. “That’s not the way we see it. Many retailers have a reconciliation action plan,” Zahra replied. “They’re seeing this as their right to be able to certainly make a stand. “We’re making sure that our people have the information they need, that’s the most important thing.

Companies supporting Voice to Parliament.

More than half of the top 20 businesses listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX), including giants Woolworths, Telstra and Kmart, have expressed their support for the Yes vote. 65 per cent of the top 20 are in support of the Yes vote, while the other 35 per cent have remained neutral.

Qantas has also offered their support for the Voice, going as far as to offer free travel for Yes23 campaign group members. Among those remaining neutral include Gina Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting.

‘Spontaneous violence’: ASIO chief’s warning

Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Director-General Mike Burgess has warned that campaigns in the lead up to the referendum could incite “spontaneous violence”. “There might be some protest and counter protest, and some of that might result in spontaneous violence,” he said.

However, there don’t appear to be any threats of terrorism. “We are not seeing indications of people planning a terrorist attack as part of that but that’s something that we constantly look at, noting the terrorism threat level is still probable,” Burgess said.

Aggression online ‘disappointing’

Australian Electoral Commissioner Tom Rogers appeared on RN Breakfast with Patricia Karvelas last week, discussing the “online vitriol” that the AEC is receiving in the face of the referendum.  

“It’s hard to quantify this but the level of aggression that’s expressed online is quite significant, and frankly disappointing,” he told Karvelas. “And I know that as I’m saying that, Patricia, some people will be throwing things at their radio, because they say ‘Well I’ve got the right to say and think whatever they want’ and it’s quite true. “I still don’t quite understand the level of vitriol directed to civil servants who are trying to deliver a process,” he said, adding that he’s only referring to a small number of people “who indulge in really quite reprehensible behaviour online”.

He added that they’re urging everyone to be civil, particularly on the day of the referendum.

Originally published as Australian Retailers Association says a major retailer used PA system to spread messages about the Voice