Peter Dutton blasts CEOs on gay marriage vote

Peter Dutton will launch a fresh attack against chief executives today, singling out Qantas boss Alan Joyce.

Peter Dutton’s speech describes a “modern phenomena” where one side of the argument attempts to “beat people in to submission”. Picture: AP

Immigration Minister Peter Dutton will launch a fresh attack against chief executives who urged Malcolm Turnbull to put the legalisation of same-sex marriage to a parliamentary vote.

The Prime Minister yesterday tried to turn the issue back on the CEOs, saying they should ask Bill Shorten why he now opposed a people’s vote, having three years ago supported the plebiscite.

In a speech to a Liberal Nat­ional Party state council meeting in Cairns today, Mr Dutton will single out Qantas boss Alan Joyce for joining more than 30 high-­profile executives in penning a ­letter to Mr Turnbull.

“Tens of thousands of customers and staff who fly with a company like Qantas, for example, would have strong views about an issue like gay marriage. Both for and against,” Mr Dutton will say.

“This is what makes the decision of a CEO or a board to spend shareholders’ money — not in pursuit of a greater return on capital or a better service for customers — but on a personal agenda, particularly galling.

“And the issue here is not gay marriage, it is activism with other people’s money. And where does it stop?

“Alan Joyce, the individual, is perfectly entitled to campaign for and spend his hard-earned money on any issue he sees fit. But don’t do it in an official capacity and with shareholders’ money.”

Business Council of Australia chief executive Jennifer Westacott

Mr Dutton’s speech describes a “modern phenomena” where one side of the argument attempts to “beat people in to submission”.

“The other side of this coin is the reality that some companies are morally coerced into supporting campaigns in fear of being ­extorted by an online social media push to boycott their product. It is unconscionable.”

Mr Turnbull stood firm on the plebiscite yesterday and attempted to shift responsibility for slow progress on marriage equality back to the Opposition Leader.

“Bill Shorten said three years ago ... that he would support a plebiscite ... if he’d supported it in the Senate ... it would have been passed and gay couples could be getting married now,” he Melbourne radio 3AW.

“We have a commitment on a plebiscite which we took to the election, so that’s our policy.”

Business Council of Australia chief executive Jennifer Westacott, another of the signatories, yesterday responded to comments by Mr Dutton that CEOs should stop shoving political correctness down people’s throats and focus on the economy rather than “fringe” issues.

“That’s his opinion — we’re all entitled to our views,” Ms Westacott told the ABC, insisting no one had been arguing harder than her on issues such as tax ­reform.

Lobby group Australian Marriage Equality had approached the business leaders to form “The Equality Campaign”.

“We ask that the Australian parliament delivers civil marriage equality so that our nation can move forward together and be a fair and equal place for all to work and live their lives,” said campaign spokeswoman Janine Middleton, a former managing director of JPMorgan.

Ms Middleton said marriage equality was good for employees, customers, businesses and the ­nation. The other signatories ­included bosses from Deloitte, Optus, Telstra, Holden, Apple, Amex, ANZ, CBA, REA Group, the NRL and MYOB.