Former David Jones CEO “bewildered” by lack of progress on marriage equality

Former David Jones CEO “bewildered” by lack of progress on marriage equality
Image: Paul Zahra. (Photo: Frank Farrugia, Same Love Photography facebook.com/samelovephotography)

THE openly-gay former chief executive of one of the country’s largest retailers has told the Star Observer he would rather wait and marry his partner of 25 years in Australia than join the many same-sex couples travelling overseas to wed.

In his most personal interview since leaving department store David Jones late last year, Paul Zahra has told the Star Observer’s monthly magazine – published today – that he believes all LGBTI people should be out at work and has opened up about his parent’s struggle to come to terms with his sexuality.

Zahra, who has been with his partner Duncan Peerman for over two decades, took the helm at David Jones in 2010.

He left in 2014 following the chain’s purchase by South Africa’s Woolworths Holdings.

In 2012, he raised eyebrows by becoming one of the first Australian CEOs to publicly support same-sex marriage.

It was a move that shocked a number of the store’s customers.

“It certainly upset certain individuals but for every person that I upset I gained 10 customers by making that… statement,” Zahra said.

“It’s about equality and the way I see it my people need to be treated equally and our customers should be treated the same, so I have a strong perspective the government should also see gay people equally.”

Asked if he was disappointed that three years later Australia was seemingly no closer to marriage equality, Zahra said: “Definitely… I’m still left bewildered, I really am.”

“It’s a long haul and it shouldn’t be given the amount of countries that have actually legislated same-sex marriage,” he added.

Prime Minister Tony Abbot has so far refused Liberal MPs a conscience vote on the issue.

Meanwhile authorities in New Zealand have reported that around half of all same-sex marriages in the country are now between overseas residents – many of them Australians.

Zahra said while he respected couples who made the choice to wed overseas, he wouldn’t be making a similar trip any time soon.

“I could shoot off but given my heritage is actually Australia I don’t necessarily want to fly off,” he said.

“I’ve been with my partner for 25 years [and] would love to get married but I would like to do it in my own country and for that reason I’ll wait.

“I want the Australian government to actually acknowledge my marriage here.”

Australian Marriage Equality (AME) national director Rodney Croome congratulated Paul Zahra on his “continued leadership” on marriage equality.

“He was one of the first corporate leaders in Australia to publicly support marriage equality and now we see his leadership paying off with more and more CEOs endorsing the reform,” he said.

Last month, Qantas, SBS, Football Federation Australia and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) signed an open letter, backed by AME, in support of same-sex marriage.

Today, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) announced that Zahra will join its diversity advisory board to help the professional services firm with its diversity and inclusion initiatives.

PwC Australia chief executive Luke Sayers said: “Paul obviously gets diversity and inclusion and the fact he can talk about it from personal experience, leading an organisation made him the perfect choice.”

Sayers added that a recent staff meeting, “[Zahra] pointed out so many things that straight men and women wouldn’t think about that impact your ability to fit in and be part of an organisation”.

Zahra said he was wary of organisations that had a less rigorous approach to diversity.

“The challenge is ensuring companies are not ticking boxes and just trying to achieve a target because it looks good but are operating authentically – knowing it is the right thing to do for their staff and makes good business sense,” he said.

Paul Zahra’s full interview can be read in the May issue of the Star Observer, available today in Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney, Adelaide and Canberra. Click here to find your nearest distribution point to collect your free copy. It is also available online in digital flip-book format.

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35 responses to “Former David Jones CEO “bewildered” by lack of progress on marriage equality”

  1. You can demand all you like. But not everybody agrees with changing the definition of marriage. It is illogical against evolution and against biology – the gay agenda is justr that an agenda

  2. It’s fine if you CAN wait, as we have done so far, but for various reasons we HAVE to get married this year. I wish it could have been here, but it won’t be.

    • Nobody should HAVE to get married. If you do (and I like to hear the reason) how does this amount to ‘equality’?

  3. Well the reason for the lack of progress is dinosaurs like Fred Nile somehow manage to get re-elected, and we have nutjobs like Tony Abbott running the country like it is some right wing utopia.

    • Nile and Abbott – both married. Why do we despise the people we aspire to be equal to?

  4. I have been with my gorgeous partner,waiting to get married for nearly 33 years, when Australia finally allows marriage equality, we will probably be taken to the altar in a wheel chair !!

  5. It seems that Australia will have marriage equality in the year 2100, just after Saudi Arabia and Iran both legalize it!

  6. You know it is the bloody 21st century and still people argue for 19th century values on sex. OMG just had an image of Queen Victoria being told one of her own is gay. So many kids so much of a chance one was. Countries like Australia say this is a great country only if you are in the right team. Come on Australia surely all are equal.

  7. I’d settle for employment equality. At this point, it’s legal to fire me for being gay. Literally, my employer could walk in and say “we don’t want gays on the payroll – you’re fired” and I have zero legal recourse. Seems like we’ve lost sight of that in the whole gay marriage debate.

  8. Yes it’s time for corporate leaders to speak out for GLBTI Australians . Corporate clout caused the quick backdown in Indiana .We need it here !

  9. At the next Federal election VOTE for Marriage Equality, Vote for Bill Shorten and Tanya Plibersek, Vote 1 The Labor Party for Australian Marriage Equality, then we will be equal!!!

  10. I’m transgender legally I’m allowed to marry my partner however if I change my gender marker as I want to ,I have to get a divorce….. Though in the same relationship pretty horrid as I’m 41 never been married but never want to get a divorce especially forcibly for no reason

  11. Steve you need to grow up. It’s not a question of blaming other people – there are a large number of Liberal voters who want change – and if you really want to be cute about it the Young Liberals were one of the first groups to push for marriage equality years ago.

    • Yes that right LGBTI people, keep voting for the Liberals, Greens, National, Christian Democrats and Labor and “screw your rights away”! Money is more important to liberal LGBTI voters – than LGBTI rights it seems! There I said it!

  12. Guam (an American territory) now has marriage equality!
    Australia still socially BACKWARD as per usual!

  13. Do not blame Australia!
    Blame Tony Abbott, Cory Benardi, the bigoted and hateful Australian Christian Lobby and Liberal voters – there the ones that should be blamed!
    Support for marriage equality within Australia is over 70 percent according to polls!

  14. Paul, we are all bewildered – and impatient, annoyed, angry and frustrated. This is taking far too long and nothing seems to be changing in a hurry. Why is the battle for equality so hard to win – in Australia of all places?

  15. Finally a senior corporate speaking out in Aus

    While even Straight US CEO ,s are demanding equally and telling politicians enough is enough