Top Australian companies that backed constitutional recognition of Indigenous people said they respected voters' rejection of the change but would now take their own steps to try to improve opportunities for the country's first inhabitants.

At an Oct. 14 referendum, Australians overwhelmingly voted down a proposal to create a constitutionally-protected Indigenous parliamentary advisory body, known as the Voice.

Financial support and publicity from big business for the referendum failed against a far less well-resourced “No” campaign, which branded corporate endorsement of the change as elitist and out of touch.

Without a political solution, it is now up to the companies themselves to pursue strategies to address entrenched disadvantage in Australia’s 3.8% Indigenous population, corporate leaders and political researchers said.

“While the country resolved not to amend our constitution, there’s never been more awareness of the significant challenges facing many Indigenous people,” said Rob Scott, CEO of Wesfarmers (WES.AX), which owns the Australian Kmart and Target department store chains plus hardware chain Bunnings.