Australia: Telstra promotes immoral LGBT ideology
Australia's
largest telco, Telstra, says it has abandoned its public campaign for marriage
equality to allow clear air during the proposed plebiscite - not because
of pressure from the Catholic church.
However,
when asked directly about the influence of the church on Telstra's decision, a
spokesman declined to say whether pressure behind the scenes had persuaded the
telco to back down.
Telstra
gave its support to Australian Marriage Equality in full-page advertisements
published in newspapers last year. The company's logo appeared alongside those
of dozens of other big Australian corporations.
But
the telco's decision to pull out of the public debate followed concerted
pressure from the Catholic church's powerful Sydney archdiocese, including a
written warning and a meeting between former Telstra chair Catherine
Livingstone and Archbishop of Sydney Anthony Fisher.
Chief
executive Andrew Penn released a statement on Thursday asserting the company's
continued support for marriage equality, but confirming it would no longer
participate in public advocacy.
"This
is because the proposed plebiscite process gives everyone an opportunity to
contribute and out of respect, it is important we allow them to voice their own
views," Mr Penn said.
"This
position was interpreted by some as us abandoning our tradition of supporting
diversity and inclusion, be it in the community or in our workplace. This could
not be further from the truth."
When
later asked directly whether the Catholic church's lobbying played any role in
the company's decision, a Telstra spokesman declined to answer the question,
saying only that Telstra had decided the issue was best handled through the
"public debate and by the parliament process".
Under
former prime minister Tony Abbott, the Coalition committed to a plebiscite on same-sex marriage after the next federal election. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull
has stuck to that promise, despite warnings from marriage equality advocates,
including some in the Coalition, that a plebiscite is unnecessary,
expensive and would unleash torrents of hate on the gay and lesbian
community.
Polls
consistently show about 40 per cent of Australians support marriage equality,
and revelations by The Australian of
Telstra's shift prompted many customers to proclaim they would cancel their
contracts.
Mr
Penn defended Telstra's "long track record in diversity and
inclusion" and said the company still
supported marriage equality as part of its commitment
to "standing against all forms of discrimination". He did not comment on
the Catholic church in his statement.
Archdiocese
of Sydney business manager Michael Digges previously wrote to corporations
featured in the AME advertisements to outline his "grave concern"
about their support for marriage equality, and appearing to threaten a boycott.
"You
may be aware that the Catholic archdiocese of Sydney is a significant user of
goods and services from many corporations, both local and international,"
he wrote. "Undoubtedly, many of the Catholic population of Sydney
would be your employees, customers, partners and suppliers."
Telstra holds the communications contract for
Australian Catholic schools and The Australian quoted a person familiar with the
company's decision who said Telstra "did not want to risk its commercial
relationship with the church".
