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Further implications
Behind the question of whether Macklemore should have performed the song Same Love at the NRL 2017 grand final is the issue of whether corporate bodies should or indeed can remain neutral on topical social issues. Corporate declarations regarding same-sex marriage have proved contentious in this regard.
On March 16, 2017, thirty-three leaders of Australian corporations declared their backing of same-sex marriage and called on the Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, to put enabling legislation before Parliament. The chief executives of Apple, ANZ Banking Group, AGL Energy, Commonwealth Bank, Holden, Qantas, Telstra, Westpac and Wesfarmers were among those who signed the joint letter which said marriage equality would be good for customers, business and the nation.
The corporate leaders' position was met with some criticism from those who challenged whether corporate bodies had the right either to speak on behalf of their employees, product users and clients on topical issues or whether they were entitled to attempt to influence community views in this way.
Immigration minister, Peter Dutton, has challenged the right of corporate heads to espouse what he considers political positions from outside the political system and without a constituency. Dutton has stated, 'If people want to enter politics, then do that, but don't do it from the office overlooking the harbour...'
In an analysis published in the Financial Review on March 16, 2017, analysts Fleur Anderson and Michael Smith noted, 'The role of big business in the debate has been a contentious issue, with some chief executives privately worried there would be a backlash against their business if they spoke out. The Catholic Church last year asked some companies to drop their marriage equality campaigns...
Telstra... backflipped on its support for marriage equality following [this] pressure...but later rejoined the campaign.'
The question seems to be as much one of economic self-interest as it is the social conscience of corporate leaders. It might appear that corporate neutrality would be the best option; however, depending on the issue and the extent of popular engagement, corporations may be pressured by employees, product users and clients to adopt a particular position. The initial position of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra (SSO) on same-sex marriage, as determined by its eight-person board, was that while it 'strongly supported' all citizens' right to have a say on the issue, it 'does not feel it has the right to take a position and commit our stakeholders to one side or the other and has decided it should remain neutral'. The reaction on social media to the board's original stance was immediate and disapproving and a large number of subscribers called to cancel subscriptions. The SSO has now declared its first position 'ill-judged' and is publicly supporting same-sex marriage.
The NRL has similarly had to meet the various requirements of its stakeholders. It has, in fact, together with other Australian sporting codes, been addressing issues related to diversity and inclusion for over a decade.
Sport has functioned like a microcosm of Australian society, in which physical and largely male sporting environments have forced a number of social issues to the fore. On- and off-field racism, homophobic sledging, off-field sexist behaviour (including sexual assault), excessive alcohol consumption, drunken brawls and illicit drug-taking have forced all Australian sporting codes to address these issues, adopt positions on them and put protocols in place. Regarding racism, sexism and homophobia, their response has been to adopt policies of education and inclusion, targeting players and officials and the broader sporting community.
With sports' prevailing policy of gender inclusion and support for those of same-sex sexual orientation, support for same-sex marriage was a natural progression. AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan declared his code's support for marriage equality in 2014. The NRL's chief executive officer, Todd Greenberg, declared the NRL's support of same-sex marriage in September this year. Both codes clearly believe it is a position in line with the views of a majority of their supporters. Having Macklemore sing Same Love at the 2017 grand final was simply an extension of a policy position that has been years in the making.