NAB, Origin Energy and KPMG throw support behind Indigenous Voice, while Anthony Albanese keeps mum on details

NAB boss Ross McEwan welcomes the ‘simplicity of the Prime Minister’s proposal’ and encourages other business leaders to add their voices of support.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the annual Garma festival. Picture: Supplied

Some of Australia’s biggest businesses are throwing their support behind the Indigenous Voice to Parliament, despite Anthony Albanese yet to reveal how the body would function.

The Prime Minister will put a ­“simple” yes-or-no question to a referendum to create an Indigenous voice in the Constitution to make recommendations on Aboriginal issues to parliament but with ­politicians retaining the power to define its functions.

The move, revealed at the Garma Festival at the weekend, has attracted the support of NAB, KPMG and Origin Energy.

NAB chief executive Ross McEwan said he welcomed the “simplicity of the Prime Minister’s proposal” and encouraged other business leaders to add their voices of support ahead of the vote.

“It is time to recognise the rightful place of Indigenous Australians as the First People of this country, and enable and empower them to participate in shared decision making that impact their communities through the Voice,” Mr McEwan said.

“Customers and colleagues should better understand what’s being asked at the ballot, why and what the impact would be.

“Business has a role to play in supporting the financial, career and business aspirations of First Nations people. NAB’s Indigenous customers and colleagues tell us they want to be empowered, in every aspect, and they see the support of their bank on this matter as critical to closing the gap and supporting their economic and social aspirations.”

Meanwhile, BHP welcomed the move, saying it would help build a “shared future”.

“BHP stands side-by-side with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in support of this country hearing the call for a shared future,” BHP Manager Indigenous Affairs Libby Ferrari said.

“We’ve not always got this right in our history but we know clearly that strong relationships, centred on listening and respect, get the best outcomes for everyone.”

KPMG Australia chair Alison Kitchen says it’s important Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People are heard, understood and respected. Picture: Gary Ramage/NCA NewsWire

KPMG Australia chair Alison Kitchen said the big four consulting firm “imagines a future where all Australians are united by our shared past, present, future and humanity”.

“In this future, the cultures, histories, rights and voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People are heard, understood and respected,” Ms Kitchen said.

“I went to the Garma festival in 2019 and it is an incredible event. It’s fitting that the Prime Minister chose this important festival in northeast Arnham Land to make this significant announcement.

“In 2019 KPMG Australia formally supported the Uluru Statement from the Heart, and earlier this year we took further action to support a constitutional reform by becoming official supporters of the From the Heart campaign and of Uluru Dialogue at the UNSW Indigenous Law Centre”.

KPMG’s reconciliation manager Shellee Murphy-Oates attended this year’s Garma Festival and said “there is a consistent atmosphere of optimism and a sense of momentum”.

“There is a consistent atmosphere of optimism and a sense of momentum. Change doesn’t feel like hope for a commitment, but an expectation for action,” Ms Oates said.

Origin Energy CEO Frank Calabria last month revealed the company’s support for the Uluru Statement of the Heart – a result of the First Nations Constitutional Convention in 2017 in which Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders invited all Australians to walk with them towards reconciliation.

Mr Calabria said Origin’s operations are located on the land of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and the company is committed to working constructively, transparently and in good faith in all interactions with Traditional Owners.

Businesses have been working with indigenous communities in recent years to create reconciliation action plans as part of their environmental, social and governance obligations.

Despite this heightened focus, it has not prevented disastrous events such as mining giant Rio Tinto blowing up the ancient Juukan Gorge caves, which dated back 46,000 years and were considered sacred by the local Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura people, in 2020.

Origin Energy CEO Frank Calabria says the company is committed to creating a culture of respect and inclusion across all parts of the organisation. (AAP Image/James Gourley)

“As a leading Australian company, we see opportunities to help achieve a reconciled nation and play a part in stopping the disadvantages currently being experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and communities,” Mr Calabria said.

“We support the Uluru Statement from the Heart as part of our strong commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, and in addition to the targets in our Stretch Reconciliation Action Plan – across the areas of Indigenous employment, Indigenous recruitment, and cultural learning.”

Mr Albanese said he wanted to avoid repeating the same mistakes of past failed referendums – particularly the republic referendum in 1999 – where voters were bogged down in the details.

“What I am not going to do is to go down the cul-de-sac of getting into every detail because that is not a recipe for success,” he said.

The Coalition is sceptical about the government’s plan and urged Mr Albanese to release its details, raising concerns the body would be a symbolic gesture. Meanwhile, Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney told ABC Q&A it would be “nuts” for the vote to go ahead without the government providing more details to the public.

“There will be a lot of information out to the community about what people are voting on,” she said in a clip released ahead of Monday’s program,” Ms Burney said.