By YES campaigner Jeremy Lasek

First it was our major sporting organisations who threw their support behind The Voice referendum – AFL, NRL, Cricket Australia, Netball Australia, Rugby Australia, Basketball Australia, etc.

Now it’s the business community who’re publicly supporting the Voice. At last count 14 of the top 20 Australian companies – including all of the big banks, Qantas, BHP, Woolworths, Rio Tinto, Fortescue Metals and Wesfarmers – are throwing their support and some serious money behind the Yes campaign.

In the Illawarra, there’s a growing number of small businesses and many, many not-for-profit organisations on board for Yes. Disappointingly, the same can’t be said of most of our biggest employers (apart from the University of Wollongong).

The majority have chosen to sit on the fence; BlueScope saying the referendum is ‘too political’.

Using ‘politics’ as a get out of jail card

This line has become the most recent ‘get out of jail card’ – a fig leaf for some corporates.

A quick reminder, this referendum shouldn’t be about politics at all. It’s about people, justice and respect for the three per cent of people in our population who are amongst the most disadvantaged.

It’s quite ironic BlueScope can’t feel it in their hearts to support the YES campaign and to give voice to the concerns of our Indigenous community. After all, when proudly releasing their First Nations Framework recently BlueScope said they ‘aim to grow the representation and empowerment of First Nations People’…within their ‘…business, supply chains and communities’

.They also boasted that their First Nations Framework sets out an ‘approach to engagement with First Nations communities, which at its very core, starts by taking the time to listen carefully. The time taken to build a meaningful dialogues and relationship with these communities helps to form a deeper understanding and connection with their needs. With time and careful dialogue, initiatives that best address that community’s needs are co-created.’

It's time to step up

Those words look terrific on the company’s website. But words are meaningless when they’re not backed up with positive and meaningful action. It’s time organisations step up and stop hiding behind their well-meaning, box-ticking Reconciliation Action Plans (RAPs) and First Nations Frameworks.

For most of them this vote on The Voice is their first real test. Are they genuine about the words that are so prominent in their RAPs? Respect. Empowerment. Equality. Inclusive.

I’m still hopeful along the journey to referendum day opinions can be changed and those ‘fence-sitting’ organisations can find the courage to make a stand that reflects the strong words on their websites. If they don’t, you’d have to ask, what’s the point?

Bravo to local Yes supporters

To those local businesses who have offered their support for the referendum, bravo!

They include the popular Fitz Cafe & Bar in Bulli and Collins Booksellers in Thirroul, who were among the first to prominently display the colourful ‘Vote Yes’ signage.

"We believe enshrining an Indigenous Voice in the Constitution is a small, simple step towards recognising and showing respect to our First Nations People," say the bookshop's owners and staff.

"It will help Australia move to a more inclusive and equitable future."

Popular inner-city live music venue, La La La’s is also 100 per cent behind the Yes campaign.

"For us, supporting a Yes vote for a First Nations’ Voice to Parliament makes total sense," said director Pat Bates.

"La La La’s is a live music venue. We know the power of voices and the stories they tell.

"The stories and voices of our Indigenous Peoples are so important to us as a country. They tell us where we’ve come from, and they will have a lot to say about where we’re going."

The owner of vintage clothing shop Van Q on Keira Street, Quirine van Nispen, believes the support for the No vote "sadly shows the status of parts of our uneducated society".

"People who have no knowledge of another’s culture and make policies on their behalf – that won’t work.

"Surely if there’s a body that can provide a voice for people who are from within that culture it will be far more effective," Quirine said.

Adding his voice for The Voice, Oliver Boudib, from Wollongong's plant-based eatery, Lil Mah's, says his reason for supporting the Yes campaign is simple: "It’s more than about time this happened."

Locally for The Voice

• Monday, 11 September – Film Screening Come Walk With Us, 5.30-730pm, UOW Hope Theatre
• Tuesday, 12 September – UOW BBQ for Yes, 11.30am-1pm, UOW Library
• Thursday, 14 September – Voice Discussion and Q&A with constitutional lawyer, researcher and Wamba Wanmba man, Eddie Synot, 7-8.30pm at Fraternity Club. Tickets $15.
• Sunday, 17 September – Walk for Yes – Turning the Tide, 10am-1pm on the southern side of Windang Bridge
• Thursday, 28 September – Business and Community lunch with respected journalist and TV presenter Kerry O’Brien delivering the keynote, 12-2.30pm at Diggers Club in the city.

Stay tuned next week for planned events on Wollongong Harbour and at Mt Keira later this month.

Last word

To those who feel it’s okay to dismiss The Voice, or sit on the fence, because ‘it’s too political’ you need to be better than that.

Celebrated Tasmanian author Richard Flanagan, who laments the treatment of Australia’s First Nations people over the past 235 years, sums it up so succinctly: "When our brothers and sisters invite us to be one, to share their vast wealth of 60,000 years, why would we spit on the invitation and trample it into the dirt? Why would we?"

About the writer

Jeremy Lasek has many decades of experience in media, marketing, events and PR. His career began in the Illawarra with the Lake Times, ABC Radio and WIN-TV. For eight years Jeremy was news director for WIN in Canberra and was national news director before joining the National Capital Authority as head of media and events. Jeremy was executive director of ACT Government Communications, Events, Arts, Heritage and Protocol for many years, was Chief of Staff to the ACT Chief Minister and had responsibility for the Centenary of Canberra celebrations in 2013. Before returning to Wollongong, Jeremy was CEO of the National Australia Day Council (including the Australian of the Year Awards) and head of communications for the Australian Federal Police. He’s currently volunteering on the YES23 campaign.