The Flying Kangaroo has unveiled a new livery, or customisation, on three Qantas Group aircraft showcasing its support of the Yes23 campaign.
The livery, featuring the Yes23 campaign logo, will be featured on a Qantas Boeing 737, a QantasLink Dash 8 Turbopop and Jetstar Airbus A320.
“We’re supporting the Yes23 campaign because we believe a formal voice to government will help close the gap for First Nations people in important areas like health, education and employment,” Qantas Group CEO, Alan Joyce, said.
“Qantas has a long history of supporting reconciliation with First Nations people, from the Aboriginal artwork on our inflight magazine in the 1960s and on our aircraft since the 1990s, to our support for constitutional recognition in 2014, public support of the Uluru Statement of the Heart 2019, and our First Nations employment and supplier commitments.”
Joyce, who will be leaving his post in November 2023 and replaced by the company’s current chief financial officer, Vanessa Hudson, said the aircraft will send a message of support for a ‘yes’ vote as they travel the country. He added that while he acknowledges there are a range of views on the issue, people should “listen to First Nations voices” and “make their own decisions”.
Qantas has developed a First Nations Strategy strategy, which involves providing meaningful careers, diversifying its supplier base and spend, amplifying First Nations experiences through its customer journey and community engagement.
The company launched its first ever Reconciliation Action Plan in 2007, and says it is currently working with Reconciliation Australia on the next one.
What is the Indigenous Voice to Parliament?
The Voice to Parliament was proposed in the Uluru Statement from the Heart, and was presented to the nation in 2017 by delegates to the First Nations National Constitutional Convention.
It called for “the establishment of a First Nations Voice enshrined in the Constitution and a Makarrata Commission to supervise a process of agreement-making and truth-telling about our history.”
In mid-June 2023, a Bill was enacted to enable a referendum (a vote to change the Australian constitution) on the matter. The referendum will ask: A Proposed Law: to alter the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. Do you approve this proposed alteration?
The government has not set a date for the referendum to take place, but it must be held before the end of the year.
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