Feature Story from 2024
A Christian senior executive of the Fortescue mining group was pressured into clarifying his stance on ‘diversity’ to all staff and resigning as a director of a Christian organisation.
The company’s Energy CEO Mark Hutchinson was a director of Alpha International which is dedicated to: “The advancement and propagation of the Christian Gospel and the promotion of teaching on all aspects of the Christian life and faith in accordance with Biblical principles.”
This includes the development and promotion of the Alpha Course for new Christians and its related ministries.
Alpha also holds to a traditional Christian view of sexuality which prompted corporate diversity activists to demand that Mr. Hutchison publicly “affirm” his support for the company’s LGBT staff.
Mr. Hutchinson initially declined to comment for a fortnight after being asked by The Australian Financial Review whether his leadership role at Alpha clashed with Fortescue’s stated support for LGBT employees.
In October he wrote to staff, saying: “Our entire global workforce come from different faiths, religions and backgrounds – and what I love is our diversity in all of its forms. I love our values and our diversity.”
“Fortescue has an industry-leading commitment to diversity and human rights, and of course, our values underpin all that we do. These values guide me as CEO in everything I do,” he added.
That statement failed to satisfy the activists and some staff who noted Mr. Hutchinson spoke in “generalities” and did not directly mention LGBT staff, so they raised it with the company’s board.
Fortescue’s billionaire chairman Andrew Forrest responded by saying: “I would like to reassure you all on behalf of our Board, that we are resolutely committed to the cause of equal rights. We expect and require the same of our leadership.”
“We uplift, empower, and celebrate every employee and protect each of them from all kinds of discrimination; this categorically includes on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, including the freedom, to choose your partner.”
Mr. Forrest concluded that the mining giant “deeply values Fortescue’s LGBTQIA+ community. At a personal level, I stand with you.”
Mr. Hutchinson immediately followed his boss’s email with his own, stating: “After speaking with some of you over the past few days, I am aware that by failing to clarify my views on same-sex relationships in my [previous] comments that I’ve let you down.”
“This was certainly not my intention, and I apologise unreservedly. I wish to state clearly that I am supportive of everyone in a same-sex marriage and same-sex relationships and value the LGBTQIA+ community.”
“I believe that all of us are equal and I accept and support every member of our team. I want everyone to have the freedom to be who they are.”
Just days later The Australian Financial Review revealed the Fortescue executive was no longer a director of the Alpha Australia National Office.
Neither is he listed as a director of the UK-registered Alpha International.
The Australian Christian Lobby (ACL)’s CEO Michelle Pearse called this sequence of events “a classic example of woke bullying.”
“Mr. Hutchinson has worked hard and earned his way into leadership. His personal views on sexuality and gender have nothing to do with his competence as Energy CEO of Fortescue.”
“Yet we see increasingly an “affirm or leave” culture permeating Australian workplaces,” Ms. Pearse lamented.
“Without any evidence of treating people unequally or unfairly, Mr. Hutchinson was publicly cornered to apologise to the LGBTQI+ minority in his workplace for not expressly affirming a belief in same-sex marriage or LGBTQI+ ideology”
“Nobody should have to apologise to anyone for their views on sexuality — let alone for their silence on such matters”
“It’s entirely possible to adopt a Biblical view of sexuality and treat everyone in the workplace equally.”
“Simply holding the view that sex should be between one man and one woman, is not discrimination.”
“This kind of behaviour – targeting Australians for their affiliation with Christian beliefs — is becoming increasingly prevalent in Australian workplaces and must be stopped.”
Michelle Pearse mentioned the cases of Israel Folau, Andrew Thorburn, and “countless other everyday Australians,” saying this is an example of why we need laws to safeguard religious freedoms.
The ACL again called on the Australian Government to introduce positive protections for religious freedom to “ensure Christians are not forced to choose between success in their career and their personal beliefs” and to guarantee the right to religious beliefs without apology.
Photo: Fortescue Group
