Same-sex marriage: Qantas commits

Qantas will support the Yes campaign in the lead up to the postal vote on same-sex marriage.

Qantas Boeing 767 aeroplane preparing for takeoff.

Qantas has become one of the first major Australian companies to throw its weight behind the Yes campaign in the lead up to the postal vote on same-sex marriage.

A spokeswoman from the airline told The Australian: “Qantas is a long-time supporter of marriage equality, and therefore a big supporter of a Yes vote. There is a lot we can do just by lending our voice to the discussion and that’s what we intend to do.”

The public support from the company, which has long advocated for changing the definition of marriage, comes as activist group GetUp! announced it will campaign to win a Yes result.

Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce has become the corporate face for same-sex marriage issues and has been vocal in lobbying for change as an openly gay businessman.

He defended the right for CEOs to be outspoken on the issue in March after Immigration minister Peter Dutton slammed corporate Australia for becoming involved in the debate.

“Qantas (and its CEO) are often called on to speak publicly on issues like company tax, industrial relations and trade,” Mr Joyce wrote in an open letter at the time.

“And we do. Because these are important issues that ultimately shape what kind of society we live in (which is the point of economics, right?).

“We’re pleased to include marriage equality on the list.”

A spokeswoman from PwC, which has also been long committed to the same-sex marriage campaign, said it would not comment publicly on a campaign strategy until the High Court made a decision on the postal vote.

Accommodation giant Airbnb told The Australian earlier in the week it would campaign for a Yes vote.

“If this is the process our political representatives ultimately choose to pursue, we will throw our full support behind the campaign in favour of marriage equality,” said the company’s Australian head Sam McDonagh.