Grain giant CBH Group puts the call out for Indigenous artwork as it finalises reconciliation action plan

Grain giant CBH Group is the latest agribusiness developing a new reconciliation action plan as more corporates work to boost Indigenous engagement and the Yes campaign for the Voice to Parliament heats up. The co-operative recently put the call out for an artist or art group to develop a contemporary painted artwork to be used throughout its reconciliation action plan and “other promotional items”, with imagery to be used digitally for marketing materials. It was willing to pay a negotiable $5000 fee for the artwork. Tender documents reveal it wanted the work to have a “lasting positive impact” on its RAP journey, with a focus on reconciliation, possibilities and connecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with its business footprint. “Our vision for reconciliation is to be better together; to understand our shared history and move forward to build a shared future that embodies respect, inclusion and sustainability,” the document — issued by IPS management consultants — said. “We work towards a company culture of cultural safety that provides a positive workplace for our team and contributes to ongoing prosperity for First Nations peoples and communities.” The tender called for work to be engaging and to feature CBH’s main corporate colour — a dark navy blue, and its secondary colours of yellow, lime green, light blue, mid blue, and dark blue. Artists were asked to submit a design proposal to CBH head of sustainability Toby Wright by late April and be complete by mid May. CBH employs about 1100 permanent employees and up to 1800 casual employees between October and January. Earlier this year, the company put the call out for a new staff member to lead reconciliation efforts with applications closing June 18. The principal — reconciliation role was aimed at ensuring the company embedded and succeeded in its reconciliation action plan commitments across the organisation. “As the chair of CBH’s reconciliation working group, you will be responsible for leading our efforts towards reconciliation and will directly engage with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, including elders and community groups,” the ad said. CBH declined to comment on the development of the plan, but said it would have more news on its progress soon. Corporate giants have come out in support of the Yes campaign ahead of the referendum on the Indigenous Voice in recent weeks, with Wesfarmers donating $2 million to the campaign after donations from BHP and Rio Tinto. However, most of WA’s top 10 listed companies — all miners aside from Wesfarmers — have not donated to the campaign. Only half have taken a public position on the voice. Fertiliser giant BASP released its inaugural reconciliation action plan last year, while machinery juggernaut CNH Industrial — which owns CASE IH — is finalising its first plan after commissioning Kununurra artist Taminga Connell to create artwork for it. Meanwhile, Eastern States grain handler GrainCorp has released hundreds of renditions of its reconciliation action plan. Federal and State departments working with agriculture are also guided by their own plans.