Peter Dutton blasts CEOs, Qantas chief Alan Joyce, over gay marriage pressure

Peter Dutton delivers a stunning gay marriage blast, attacking ‘bullying’ CEOs and Qantas boss Alan Joyce.

Immigration Minister Peter Dutton has taken fresh aim at CEOs over pressuring the government on same-sex marriage. Picture: AAP

Immigration Minister Peter Dutton has singled out Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce in a fresh assault on the involvement of some of Australia’s largest companies in the marriage equality debate.

Mr Dutton used his address to the Liberal National Party’s state council meeting in Cairns to accuse chief executives, including Mr Joyce, of using shareholders money to drive a personal agenda.

.@PeterDutton_MP: @TurnbullMalcolm has been clear on same-sex marriage, 'we aren't going to be bullied into action or non-action'. #auspol pic.twitter.com/E8FgPw5TNR

— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) March 18, 2017

He suggested CEOs go “back to your knitting”, rather than try and “bully” governments into certain positions using the money of shareholders.

“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 the official capacity and with shareholders money,” he told the meeting on Saturday morning.

“I want to make it very clear that in Australia we all deserve to participate in debates, regardless of the issue, in a way that is sensible and free from coercion or bullying.

“And I want to make sure it is done in a way that is respectful.

“It doesn’t matter if the issue is same-sex marriage. or whether it is some other important issue. The fact is that people who are elected to parliament, or people who are individuals who are expressing their view in that capacity, (they) have the right to contribute to those debates.

“Companies who are publicly listed, who are using shareholders’ money, to push a particular point of view, or to use an iconic brand or a multibillion-dollar business to push a particular view in these debates is unacceptable.

“It’s equally unacceptable for organisations like GetUp, who are affiliated very closely with the Greens and the Labor Party, and the CFMEU. It is unacceptable for those organisations to bully companies into particular positions, or indeed into submission.”

.@PeterDutton_MP says 'in Australia, we all deserve to participate in debates in a way that is sensible and free from coercion.' #auspol pic.twitter.com/bOBLGe8dXI

— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) March 18, 2017

AAP