Voice debate follows Andrew Forrest into the Pilbara
Andrew Forrest has tried hard to stay out of the Voice to parliament debate, but it stalked him into the desert as Yes and No campaigners, including Noel Pearson and Warren Mundine, joined a list of Australia’s rich and financially famous on an elaborate Pilbara pilgrimage.
Forrest flew scores of guests on chartered Qantas flights to his Solomon mine in remote Western Australia on Saturday to celebrate 20 years of his Fortescue Metals Group with a show headlined by Jimmy Barnes.
Given he was staging a rock concert somewhere only reachable by flight, the least the climate-conscious iron ore magnate could do was organise the airborne equivalent of a car-pool.
“Even for Andrew, this is a lot,” says one long-time associate of the Fortescue Metals 20th birthday bash in the Pilbara.
Fortescue’s founder and executive chairman kicked off the party aboard a huge Caterpillar truck, waving an equally oversized company flag while the speakers blared out AC/DC’s Thunderstruck. Later, a show-stopping drone exhibition lit up the clear desert skies. “Even for Andrew, this is a lot,” says one long-time associate.
Fortescue has not declared a position on the referendum on an Indigenous Voice to parliament, but sources close to him say they believe Forrest is in the “No” camp. Pearson acknowledges this toThe Australian Financial Review, saying he has known Mr Forrest for many years and is trying to get the mining magnate to change his mind on the issue.
While rival BHP has thrown its support in favour of a constitutional amendment, Twiggy’s company line is that it is “a matter for the Australian people”. Mundine, a prominent “No” campaigner, wore a “vote no” shirt to the event, which was also attended by “Yes” campaigners such as pollster
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