Corporate Australia takes Indigenous support into its own hands after poll defeat

At an Oct. 14 referendum, Australians overwhelmingly voted down a proposal to create a constitutionally-protected Indigenous parliamentary advisory body, known as the Voice.

Financial support and publicity from big business for the referendum failed against a far less well-resourced “No” campaign, which branded corporate endorsement of the change as elitist and out of touch.

Without a political solution, it is now up to the companies themselves to pursue strategies to address entrenched disadvantage in Australia’s 3.8% Indigenous population, corporate leaders and political researchers said.

“While the country resolved not to amend our constitution, there’s never been more awareness of the significant challenges facing many Indigenous people,” said Rob Scott, CEO of Wesfarmers (WES.AX), which owns the Australian Kmart and Target department store chains plus hardware chain Bunnings.