ABA chair Peter King (L) with Noel Pearson
Support for constitutional reform to create a First Nations Voice to Parliament is hardening across the Australian banking sector, with most of the country’s leading institutions throwing their weight behind the ‘Yes’ campaign.
The Voice is a substantive reform detailed in the Uluru Statement from the Heart of 2017, which prime minister Anthony Albanese promised to implement during the 2022 federal election campaign.
Bendigo and Adelaide Bank is the latest bank to join the campaign promoting the referendum proposal, which is expected to be put to a national vote in October or November.
“Bendigo and Adelaide Bank is committed to reconciliation and supports the Voice to Parliament,” a bank spokesperson said last night.
“We believe that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples should be enabled to have input into policies and decisions that impact them.
“We are hopeful that enshrining a Voice to Parliament in the Australian Constitution will elevate the voices of First Nations Peoples and contribute to reconciliation in our country.”
Bendigo’s support for the referendum comes as it prepares to launch its inaugural reconciliation action plan next week.
Bank of Queensland has also committed to supporting the Voice as part of its latest reconciliation action plan announced earlier this month.
“The Bank of Queensland Group supports the campaign for an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament that is enshrined in the Constitution,” the bank states in an official statement on the Voice.
“At this important time for Australia, BOQ is committed to supporting our people to learn more about the Voice to enable each person to make their own informed voting decision.
“Our vision for reconciliation is an Australia in which all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have infinite opportunity to prosper.”
Another Brisbane-based institution, Suncorp Group, also backs the Uluru Statement, which calls for the establishment of the Voice.
“Suncorp continues to actively promote reconciliation as key to building a more inclusive and resilient Australia,” a Suncorp spokesman said.
“As such, we are proud to support the Uluru Statement from the Heart and we encourage a constructive, informed and respectful dialogue ahead of all Australians exercising their right to vote on the proposed amendments to the Constitution.”
Most of the country’s leading deposit-takers support changing the federal constitution to accommodate the Voice, including the four major banks.
ANZ, National Australia Bank and Commonwealth Bank announced they were backing the campaign last year, while Westpac chief executive Peter King confirmed his bank’s support for the referendum in a letter to staff on 24 March.
Each of the banks advancing the case for constitutional reform say they are planning to hold information seminars on topics relating to the Voice proposal in the months leading up to the referendum.
However, each of the pro-Voice banks also acknowledge that individual staff members will inevitably form different views on the issue.
That point was recognised by King in his letter to Westpac staff last month.
“I was proud to share our support for the Uluru Statement from the Heart and a Voice to Parliament, as part of Westpac’s Reconciliation Action Plan in 2022 and today I’m proud to say that Westpac supports this referendum,” King told his staff.
“Importantly, we won’t be telling anyone how they should vote.
“What we will do, is make it easy for you to access information about the referendum and hear direct from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders about how a Voice to Parliament would help improve the quality of life in many communities.
“I respect that some people will have different views and your vote is your personal decision.
“All I ask is that you look at the facts, listen openly and most importantly, show care for our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees, customers and community members during this time.”
Indigenous leaders advancing the case for the Voice say they are not surprised at the high level of support in the banking industry.
Dean Parkin from the Quandamooka peoples of Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island) in Queensland said engagement between banks and indigenous communities about constitutional reform began more than five years ago.
Parkin is a director of From The Heart – the indigenous-led organisation canvassing for the ‘Yes’ campaign.
“It doesn’t surprise me that there is strong support for constitutional change in the banking sector because conversations between indigenous communities and the banks have been going on for many years,” he said.
“The banks understand the importance of recognition and a Voice for First Nations peoples in the constitution.
“Having their support is very encouraging.”
Parkin highlighted that backing from banking industry had emerged after years of engagement.
“There’s been a lot of work put into this by indigenous communities, the banks and other parts of corporate Australia,” he said.
“It’s not something that has fallen out of the sky overnight.”
Indigenous businessman and founder of the IndiBrewing Group, Joe Procter, welcomed the banking industry’s support for the referendum.
“It’s encouraging to see a majority of the banks get behind the Voice, and given where interest rates are, they should be getting behind campaigns to improve society,” he said.
Procter also fired a salvo at Warren Mundine, a high-profile indigenous opponent of the referendum.
“Paul Keating famously said always back the horse called self-interest, and Warren certainly has a horse in this race.”
Commonwealth Bank last night reiterated its support for indigenous recognition and the Voice to Parliament.
“We support an Indigenous Voice to Parliament that is enshrined in the Constitution,” the bank said in a statement.
“Our focus through the current national discussion will be on engaging our employees to increase awareness on the proposal and the process.
“We will also take the opportunity to encourage greater discussion across the bank about our own commitments to reconciliation.
“In our experience, we have benefited from listening to Indigenous voices, both internal and external, to better support our indigenous staff and customers.”
The Australian Banking Association confirmed yesterday that it was publicly supporting the ‘Yes’ campaign, even though a few of its members were not able to publicly back the Voice.
“The ABA Council has considered this issue and confirms its support for the Uluru Statement including an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice,” an ABA spokesperson said.
In response to questions from Banking Day on whether Macquarie Group would back the voice, a spokesperson for the bank only confirmed the company’s support for indigenous recognition in the constitution.
A spokesperson for ING Bank Australia said the Dutch-owned subsidiary would not be forming a public position on the referendum.
AMP Bank and Great Southern Bank also do not have organisational positions on the Voice, but each indicated they would help staff make informed decisions on the referendum.