Profit or Politics? Inside Australia’s Corporate Culture War

In this episode, CIS executive director Tom Switzer sits down with researchers Simon Cowan and Emilie Dye to explore the rising backlash against corporate social activism in Australia.

Drawing on findings from their new report Business Means Business, Cowan and Dye reveal what Australians really think about ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) initiatives. Their exclusive polling shows that most consumers, employees, and even younger Australians want companies to focus on service and profit—not politics. From corporate support of The Voice referendum to Australia Day controversies, they highlight how big brands risk alienating the public and undermining trust.

With global case studies like Bud Light and Chick-fil-A, this conversation questions whether “woke capitalism” is sustainable and exposes consequences of value-driven branding and political posturing. A sharp, evidence-based critique of business orthodoxy—and a timely call for corporate neutrality.