Qantas flies the Olympics flag amid debate over corporate Australia’s involvement of social issues

Just a day after Qantas’ incoming chair sounded the alarm over corporate Australia dipping a toe into social issues such as the “Yes” campaign, the Flying Kangaroo is throwing its support behind our Paris Olympians.

The airline copped a public backlash and its board faced stiff questions from investors and traveller last year when it threw its support behind the campaign in the Voice to Parliament referendum and plastered “Yes23” on three of its planes.

At the time, then-chief executive Alan Joyce said “every major city, every major town will get to see this message”.

Qantas also helped to fly campaigners from Yes23 and the Uluru Dialogue across the continent ahead of the national poll.

But John Mullen, who will succeed WA business titan Richard Goyder ahead of the airline’s annual general meeting later this year, said more targeted funding of social causes was required, claiming corporate Australia’s image was hurt by funding the failed Voice referendum.

He said company leaders should find the right balance between investor returns and “greater stakeholder involvement”.

“Corporate Australia has done itself a bit of a disservice with ... some things like the Voice,” he said on Thursday.

Qantas will be hoping its backing for Australian athletes headed to the Games in Paris next month will get a warmer reception from travellers, with a “GO AUSTRALIA” message decorating either side of one of its Boeing 787 Dreamliners.

“The specially created graphic showcases Australian pride on an international stage and captures the essence of the iconic green and gold Aussie spirit, solidifying the Flying Kangaroo’s proud position as the official carrier of the 2024 Australian Olympic and Paralympic Teams,” the airline said.

CEO Vanessa Hudson said Qantas was proud to support Australian athletes and supporters, extending a partnership of getting them to and from the Olympics since the London Games on 1948.

That support also includes its engineers designing custom cushions and support devices for Paralympians to travel comfortably on long-haul sectors.

Australian Olympic Team Chef de Mission for Paris 2024 Anna Meares welcomed Qantas’ ongoing support for Australian athletes.

“As an Olympian, flying on that Qantas plane home from a Games, to meet friends and family in the Qantas hangar welcome home, is such a special memory. I’m looking forward to our 2024 Olympic Team making their own Qantas memories on their journey to and from the Paris Games.”