Qantas takes a new gamble with new planes- but not everyone is happy: ‘If only you cared about customer service as much as you about virtue signalling’

Qantas has made a bold declaration of support for the Indigenous Voice to Parliament but the public pledge has gone down like a lead balloon among Aussies as support for the Yes vote continues to plummet.

The airline has unveiled three planes emblazoned with the ‘Yes23’ logo, along with the message ‘Qantas proudly supports Voice to Parliament’.

Qantas shared a photo of the new livery to social media before showing off three freshly decked out planes at an official launch party attended by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Sydney on Monday.

But not everyone is happy, sparking a divided reaction from Aussies on social media.

Many described the move as ‘virtue-signalling while others vowed to boycott the airline, six years after Qantas launched a similar campaign for the same sex marriage vote.

Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce said support for the Voice continues the national carrier’s long-term commitment to reconciliation along with the notion of a ‘fair go’.

Anthony Albanese (pictured right with Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce) welcomed the airline’s support for the Indigenous Voice to Parliament when Qantas unveiled its planes emblazoned with ‘Yes23’ in Sydney on Monday

‘It’s great to see so much support from parliament in the room. Qantas got established in the 1920s thanks to the First Nations. They helped us discover landing sites. We wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for them,’ Mr Joyce told the crowd.

‘Qantas was one of the first companies to have a reconciliation action plan. Internships, trainee programs to provide high quality jobs to First Nations people, and have a program working with First Nations suppliers.

‘We’re here today to confirm and demonstrate that we support an Indigenous Voice to Parliament.’

‘We’re literally, flying the flag so every major city, every major town, will get to see this message, which is fantastic.’

The ‘Yes23’ livery will be carried on three aircraft: a Qantas Boeing 737, a QantasLink Dash 8 Turboprop and a Jetstar Airbus A320.

Its support for the Yes campaign sparked a divided reaction from Aussies. 

‘If only you embraced customer service as enthusiastically as you embrace virtue signalling,’ lawyer Jim Parke tweeted.

Another man wrote: ‘Please just stick to sorting out the airline and stay out of politics.’

One woman added: ‘It’s obviously your choice. But its also your passengers’ choice not to fly with you ever again.’

AFL legend Adam Goodes (pictured with Qantas staff on Monday) made a rare public appearance to pledge his support for the Yes vote

The Qantas launch was another opportunity for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (right) to spruik the Voice. He’s pictured with Indigenous leader Noel Pearson (left), Yes23 Campaign Director Dean Parkin (2nd from left) and Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce (second right)

Other Aussies vowed to boycott the airline. 

‘Another reason to not fly Qantas,’ one woman tweeted.

There was more public backlash when the Prime Minister took to social media to praise Qantas for its public support.

‘Politicians and Qantas don’t own that plane, the taxpayers do,’ one Aussie tweeted.

Another added: Does the plane get to vote? I thought this was for Australia people to decide. 

Mr Joyce acknowledged the fact that not everyone is in favour of the Voice while urging Aussies to make their own decisions.

‘We know there are a range of views on this issue, including amongst our customers and employees, and we respect that,’ he said in a statement.

‘I encourage people to find out more, to listen to First Nations voices, and to make their own decisions.’

It comes as Fair Australia, part of the No campaign for the Voice slammed Qantas for weighing into the debate.

‘In the middle of a cost of living crisis – while they’re raking in billions in profit  Qantas wants to lecture struggling Australian families on how to vote in the referendum,’ Fair Australia tweeted.

‘This is a corporate giant who unlawfully sacked thousands of workers during the pandemic and now faces accusations of price gouging.

‘Qantas, the big banks, Labor, the Greens and the Teals should leave struggling Australians alone.

‘Instead of haranguing us about the divisive Voice, maybe Qantas should focus on making sure our bags arrive on time and not broken apart.

‘Whether it’s endorsements from celebrities or multibillion dollar corporates – the Yes campaign can’t seem to get the message: mainstream Australians have had enough.’

Qantas has unveiled its newest pledge of public support for the Indigenous Voice to Parliament, sparking a divided response from Aussies

Support for the Yes campaign soared at the Qantas launch in Sydney on Monday, sparking a furious response from Aussies

Indigenous AFL legend Adam Goodes made a rare public appearance to pledge his support for the Voice at Monday’s launch.

‘We can’t have people sitting on the sidelines right now, not listening, not engaging, and then two weeks before a month before we have to vote, trying to find all that information,’ the two time premiership and Brownlow Medal winner told crowd.

‘We need to have those conversations now and we need to start listening to what people are thinking and saying.’

The launch was another opportunity for the Prime Minister to issue an impassioned plea to Australians to vote Yes when the referendum is held later in the year.

‘The spirit of Australia says yes, and it says yes because this will assist reconciliation in a practical way,’ Mr Albanese said.

‘In 2023, we will give every Australian the opportunity in coming weeks – not long to go now – to do that, to show respect, to uplift our whole nation and to send a message to the world that we are a confident, mature nation prepared to come to terms with the fullness and the richness of our history.’

‘It will be such a wonderful moment because the alternative is more of the same – the same that sees us achieving just four of 19 closing the gap targets being on track.’

‘We can do better, we must do better, and we will do better when Australians vote for recognition’

The prime minister first hinted that Qantas would publicly pledge its support vote three months ago.

Anthony Albanese(right)  first hinted of Qantas’ support for the Voice back in May. He’s pictured with partner Jodie Haydon and Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce at the airline’s 100th birthday celebrations

AFL legend Adam Goodes (second right) called for more conversations about the proposed Voice to Parliament

In a meeting with News Corp editors in May, Mr Albanese revealed Qantas was considering publicly backing the campaign by painting Yes in large lettering on the side of some of its planes. 

The latest move comes six years after Qantas publicly backed the marriage equality vote.

The Voice is a proposed advisory body which would make recommendations to the federal government and parliament on laws and policies affecting Indigenous people.

The Voice referendum is expected to be held in October.