Chief executive Shayne Elliott is plausibly violating the bank’s Ethics Policy and ANZ’s human rights obligations by speaking at the Australia Israel Chamber of Commerce business lunch. Michael West reports.
When ANZ chief Shayne Elliott addresses Queensland’s business elite at a swanky Brisbane Hotel next week, he may do so with a feeling of unease. It may even cost him some customers.
Barrister Benedict Coyne has lodged a Human Rights Grievance under the ANZ Human Rights Grievance Mechanism in relation to Elliott’s patronage of the Israel business lobby and says the bank is lending its “imprimatur to endorsing and promoting the business, political and geopolitical interests of the AICC (and by association the Israel Australia Chamber of Commerce) … appears to be in contravention of ANZ Human Rights Statement (May 2022), ANZ Human Rights Statement (November 2021), RESPECTING PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES – ANZ’s Approach to Human Rights (September 2012), the ANZ Code of Conduct, the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) and the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises on Responsible Business Conduct”.
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Open in new tab Proceeds from the $2025 a table business lunch go to support Israel, which is accused of plausible genocide in the International Court of Justice, and this week, via its Gaza blockade announcement, stands accused of the starvation of the entire people of Gaza.
Barrister Benedict Coyne
Does Elliott support this? The AICC apparently does. This is one of Australia’s premier big business lobbies and its sponsors have included Israeli weapons manufacturers such as Elbit Systems whose weapons were involved in the assassination of Australian Zomi Frankcom and other aid workers.
Chair of the AICC is Jillian Segal, who is also a vocal supporter of the government of Israel as well as Australia’s Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism.
Last month, it was reported in these pages that the AICC and its associated entity in Israel, the Israeli Australia Chamber of Commerce (IACC) were funding illegal settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) and were associated with Israeli weapons manufacturers involved in war crimes, atrocities and what the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has declared to be a “plausible” genocide in Gaza.
The AICC describes itself as “Australia’s pre-eminent international Chamber of Commerce and one of the country’s most prestigious and active national business organisations,” with over 1,000 member companies.
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According to the Coyne Human Rights Grievance lodged with ANZ:
“The AICC’s Israeli associate, the Israel-Australia Chamber of Commerce (IACC), is chaired by Major General Ido Nehushtan, president of weapons contractor Boeing Israel and a former commander of the Israeli Air Force.
“The IACC profile on Guidestar, which is the regulating body for Israeli charities, shows that the organisation is funding Israel’s illegal settlement program. Up to 35% of funds are going to areas which Israel calls the Judea and Samaria region, the Northern District, and Jerusalem District (also known as ‘Greater Jerusalem’).
“Judea and Samaria is Israel’s name for most of its settlements in the West Bank.
“While the Northern District includes areas inside Israel’s internationally recognised borders, it also includes the illegally occupied Syrian Golan Heights.”
The Chamber is, perhaps with the exception of the Business Council of Australia, this country’s preeminent big business lobby; holding regular junkets, summits at lunches at ritzy five-star hotel ballrooms where business leaders deliver their speeches before packed audiences spending thousands of dollars per table.
It is the premier networking organisation for Israel in Australia and high-tech is at the vanguard of the lobbying. The ‘Start-Up Nation’ begins with the Israel Defence Force’s (IDF) intelligence units.
The Chamber’s objective is to promote collaboration between the two countries. It describes itself as “Australia’s pre-eminent international Chamber of Commerce and one of the country’s most prestigious and active national business organisations”, with over 1,000 member companies.
ANZ declined to respond to questions for this story.
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Michael West established Michael West Media in 2016 to focus on journalism of high public interest, particularly the rising power of corporations over democracy. West was formerly a journalist and editor with Fairfax newspapers, a columnist for News Corp and even, once, a stockbroker.