he set up a battle between his party and big businesses employing more than 2 million Australians.
Danny Gilbert is surprised and perplexed at the Nationals’ opposition to an Indigenous Voice in the constitution.“The CEOs and board are seeing this as a matter for nationhood really, and they want to be part of a strong, thriving nation that’s dealing with the real pockets of poverty and disadvantage,” he says.
Gilbert, who is managing partner at Gilbert + Tobin, says Littleproud and his party are “out of touch” with the majority of Australians. “The NSW Nats don’t seem to have a similar kind of view to Littleproud. And if you think about the last two elections, federally and in Victoria, that kind of approach doesn’t sit comfortably with the Australian electorate any more.”Gilbert, who is passionate about what he calls the “most profound act of reconciliation”, is delivering the Blackshield Oration at Macquarie University on Wednesday night on the topic The Voice: A Call to Leadership.
“One of the issues is that the way Indigenous Affairs are run in this country there is no other group of people in this country that have a minister and a bureaucracy in every state and territory designed to look after their best interests. “This is not going to force them to do anything. It’s a very modest thing. It’s only about making representations and giving advice, but the fact that the Australian people will have spoken you would think will make them more attentive to listening to what needs to happen on the ground.
The BCA sledging the Nats is a brave move. Perhaps they are eager for another surprise violation by labor?