Lobbying in South Australia

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Parliament House, South Australia Parliament House, Adelaide.jpg
Parliament House, South Australia

Lobbying in South Australia is a growing activity, by which organizations or individuals attempt to influence the Government of South Australia in its policy, regulation and law-making. Since 1 December 2009, lobbyists commercially operating on behalf of third party interests are required to join a register and must also comply with a Code of Conduct. [1] The register is available to the public via the website of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, and lists the names of registered entities, their employed lobbyists and their clients. As of April 2015, sixty-five different entities are listed on the register, [2] with notable examples including Bespoke Approach and Barker Wentworth.

Contents

Former politicians turned lobbyists

Alexander Downer Alexander Downer (2).jpg
Alexander Downer

Many consultant lobbyists in South Australia are former state or federal politicians. They include (listed with former party affiliations): [2]

NameFormer party affiliationPolitical retirementLobbying as
Baldwin, Bob Liberal2016Outcomes & Strategies Group [3]
Bolkus, Nick Labor 2003 Nick Bolkus, Kazaru, [4] Bespoke Approach
Conlon, Patrick Labor 2014 Patrick Conlon, Conlon Farrell Consulting, [5] Conlon Advisory [6]
Crafter, Greg Labor1993Greg Crafter Consulting
Downer, Alexander Liberal 2008 Bespoke Approach
Duluk, Sam Liberal2022Capetal Advisory [7]
Elferink, John Country Liberal2016John Elferink [8]
Evans, Iain Liberal2014Iain Evans Consulting [9] [10]
Everingham, Paul Country Liberal

1987

GRA Everingham
Foley, Kevin Labor 2011 Foley Advisory, [11] Bespoke Approach
Gunn, Graham Liberal 2010 Graham Gunn, The Colt Consulting Trust [12]
Henderson, Paul Labor2013Bespoke Territory (affiliated with Bespoke Approach)
Ingerson, Graham Liberal 2001 Expedite SA, Visionary and Enterprising Management Services, [13] [8] GA & JA Ingerson, [14]
Jeanes, Susan Liberal Right Angle Business Services
Lewis, Peter Independent, previously Liberal 2006 Essential Media Communications
Matthew, Wayne Liberal 2006 Government Relations Solutions, [15] Govstrat
Olsen, John Liberal 2001 Bespoke Approach
Portolesi, Grace Labor2014Grace Portolesi Connect [16]
Pyne, Christopher Liberal2019Pyne & Partners, GC Advisory (co-owned by Adam Howard) [17]
Quirke, John Labor 2000 Pallidon, The Colt Consulting Trust [18] [12]
Reith, Peter Liberal 2001 Peter Reith


Snelling, Jack LaborSnelling Consulting [19]
Santoro, Santo Liberal 2007 Santo Santoro Consulting
Schacht, Chris Labor 2002 Chris Schacht
Wright, Michael Labor2014Michael Wright [20]

Senior public servants turned lobbyists

Some lobbyists active in South Australia are former senior public servants. Former CEO of the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure Rod Hook, [21] now lobbying as Rod Hook & Associates is an example of this. [22] [23]

Resources and energy sector lobbyists

During the Rann government and more recently the Weatherill Government (post 2011), significant efforts were made to encourage mineral and energy resource development in South Australia. Government initiatives were welcomed by the private sector, many of which engaged third party lobbyists to further their objectives. Some lobbyists represent these sectors as part of a broader portfolio of interests (Bespoke Approach, for example) [ citation needed ] while others such as Barker Wentworth are more specialised. [ citation needed ] Crosby Textor is another high profile international lobbying firm active in this area in SA. [24]

Marathon Resources compensation claim

Exploration company Marathon Resources successfully lobbied the South Australian government for compensation after a ban on mining was introduced in the Arkaroola Protection Area, where the company had previously been exploring for uranium. In 2011, the company had three former Labor ministers, a former state Liberal MP and a former federal Liberal minister lobbying for the company or sitting on its board. The company's lobbyists included ALP lobbyist John Quirke, former Liberal MP Graham Gunn, and the firm Bespoke Approach (which is composed of Nick Bolkus, Alexander Downer and Ian Smith). Chris Schacht was sitting on the company's board during the compensation drive. [25] In 2012, the company was paid $5 million in compensation by the Government of South Australia. [26]

See also

Lobbying

Related Research Articles

Lobbying is a form of advocacy, which lawfully attempts to directly influence legislators or government officials, such as regulatory agencies or judiciary. Lobbying involves direct, face-to-face contact and is carried out by various entities, including individuals acting as voters, constituents, or private citizens; corporations pursuing their business interests; non-profits and NGOs through advocacy groups to achieve their missions; and legislators or government officials influencing each other in legislative affairs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nick Bolkus</span> Australian politician

Nick Bolkus is a former Australian Labor Party politician. He was a member of the Senate from July 1981 to June 2005, representing the state of South Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kevin Foley (South Australian politician)</span> Australian politician

Kevin Owen Foley is a former South Australian politician who served as 11th Deputy Premier of South Australia and additionally Treasurer of South Australia in the Rann government from 2002 to 2011 for the South Australian Branch of the Australian Labor Party. He is the longest-serving deputy premier and the third longest-serving treasurer in South Australian history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Santos Limited</span> Australian energy company

Santos Ltd. is an Australian oil and gas exploration and production company, with its headquarters in Adelaide, South Australia. It owns liquefied natural gas (LNG), pipeline gas, and oil assets. It is the biggest supplier of natural gas in Australia, with its plants in the Cooper Basin in South Australia and South West Queensland supplying the eastern states of Australia. Its operations also extend to the seas off Western Australia and Northern Territory.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arkaroola</span> Town in South Australia

Arkaroola is the common name for the Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary, a wildlife sanctuary situated on 610 square kilometres of freehold and pastoral lease land in South Australia. It is located 700 kilometres north of the Adelaide city centre in the Northern Flinders Ranges, adjacent to the Vulkathunha-Gammon Ranges National Park and the Mawson Plateau. The most common way to get there is by car, but air travel can be chartered from Parafield Airport, Adelaide Airport or Aldinga Airfield. It was used as a location set for the 2002 film The Tracker.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adelaide Casino</span> Casino in Adelaide, Australia

Adelaide Casino, known commercially as SkyCity Adelaide, is a large casino and recreational venue on the north edge of the Adelaide city centre. Located in the heritage-listed Adelaide railway station building on North Terrace, Adelaide, the casino has 90 gaming tables and 950 gaming machines, as well as several bars, function areas and restaurants. Operated as part of the SkyCity Entertainment Group, it is the sole licensed casino in South Australia, regulated by the Independent Gambling Authority and the Liquor and Gambling Commissioner under the Casino Act 1997.

Iain Frederick Evans is a former Australian politician. He was leader of the South Australian Division of the Liberal Party of Australia from 2006 to 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Parnell</span> Australian politician

Mark Charles Parnell is an Australian former politician and parliamentary leader of the SA Greens in the South Australian Legislative Council. He was the first SA Greens representative to be elected to the Parliament of South Australia, at the 2006 election. He was re-elected for another eight-year term in the Legislative Council at the 2014 election. Parnell announced he would retire at the 2022 state election, but resigned from the parliament early to give his successor an "opportunity to make his mark in Parliament ahead of the election".

Graham Alexander Ingerson is a former Australian politician and 8th Deputy Premier of South Australia from 1996 to 1998. Ingerson was a Liberal Party member of the House of Assembly seat of Bragg between 1983 and 2002.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Schacht</span> Australian politician

Christopher Cleland Schacht is a former Australian politician and member of the South Australian branch of the Australian Labor Party (ALP). He was born in Melbourne and educated at the University of Adelaide and Wattle Park Teachers College.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SA Power Networks</span> Privately-owned principal electricity distributor in South Australia

SA Power Networks is the principal electricity distributor in the state of South Australia, delivering electricity from high voltage transmission network connection points operated by ElectraNet. It is the successor to the Electricity Trust of South Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fossil fuels lobby</span> Lobbying supporting the fossil fuels industry

The fossil fuels lobby includes paid representatives of corporations involved in the fossil fuel industry, as well as related industries like chemicals, plastics, aviation and other transportation. Because of their wealth and the importance of energy, transport and chemical industries to local, national and international economies, these lobbies have the capacity and money to attempt to have outsized influence on governmental policy. In particular, the lobbies have been known to obstruct policy related to environmental protection, environmental health and climate action.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Gee</span> Mountain in Australia

Mount Gee is located in the northern Flinders Ranges within the Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary, and is part of the Mount Painter inlier. It was named after a mining warden, Lionel Gee.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beverley Uranium Mine</span> Mine in South Australia

The Beverley Mine is Australia's third uranium mine and Australia's first operating in-situ recovery mine. It is located in South Australia in the gazetted locality of Wooltana about 35 km from Lake Frome at the northern end of the Flinders Ranges. It officially opened in 2001. The original Beverley uranium deposit was discovered by one of Bill Siller's companies in 1969 and was named after his wife—Beverley Siller.

Heathgate Resources Pty Ltd is a uranium mining company owned by the US-based nuclear company, General Atomics. Heathgate owns and operates the Beverley and Beverley North uranium mines which are located in the Frome Basin about 550 kilometres (340 mi) north of Adelaide in South Australia. In 2000, Heathgate Resources established Australia’s first operating in-situ recovery (ISR) uranium mine. The company is based in Adelaide and is a sponsor of the South Australian Museum. In the South Australian Parliament, Heathgate Resources has been represented by lobbying firms Hawker Britton and Barton Deakin Government Relations.

Ian Richard Smith is an Australian political lobbyist. He is a founder of the firm Bespoke Approach, and is considered by The Power Index to be one of Australia's most influential political lobbyists.

Port Bonython Fuels is a fuel importation and diesel distribution hub at Port Bonython on the Point Lowly peninsula in South Australia's upper Spencer Gulf region. The development was designed to supply the State's expanding oil, gas and mineral resources sectors' operations in the north and west of the state. It allows South Australia to import fuel from ships carrying cargoes in excess of 100,000 tonnes- approximately four times the size of vessels currently importing diesel via Port Adelaide. The project is owned by Petro Diamond Australia, a wholly owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi Corporation. The first stage of the project was officially opened in May 2016.

Gupta Family Group Alliance is an international group of businesses associated with businessman Sanjeev Gupta and the British Gupta family. Collectively, companies in the alliance are involved in mining, industry and trading.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clean Seas Seafood</span>

Clean Seas Seafood Ltd is an Australian seafood company, specialising in aquaculture of the Yellowtail Kingfish.

Cu-River Mining Pty. Ltd. is a privately-owned Australian resources company with interests in iron ore mining and port development projects in South Australia. It is the smaller of two iron ore exporters operating in the state, the larger being the GFG Alliance. The company is owned by Adelaide-based businessman, Yong Gang Shan and as of 2019 its only producing asset was the Cairn Hill mine in the state's Far North. The company has contracted mining, processing and freight logistics services to Agile Mining Services and Lucas Total Contract Solutions

References

  1. ↑ "Lobbyist: Code of Conduct". Department of Premier & Cabinet. Government of South Australia. Archived from the original on 2015-04-12. Retrieved 2015-04-16.
  2. 1 2 "Lobbyist: Who is on the register?". Department of Premier & Cabinet. Government of South Australia. 2015-04-14. Retrieved 2015-04-16.
  3. ↑ "Bob Baldwin", Wikipedia, 2021-05-01, retrieved 2021-06-14
  4. ↑ "Lobbyist Portal". www.lobbyists.sa.gov.au. Retrieved 2021-06-14.
  5. ↑ "South Australian Register of Lobbyists - Conlon Farrell Consulting" (PDF). 2018-05-07.
  6. ↑ "Lobbyist Portal". www.lobbyists.sa.gov.au. Retrieved 2021-06-14.
  7. ↑ "Capetal Advisory".
  8. 1 2 "Lobbyist Portal". www.lobbyists.sa.gov.au. Retrieved 2021-06-14.
  9. ↑ "Iain Evans Consulting Trust - South Australian Register of Lobbyists" (PDF). 2018-04-01.
  10. ↑ "Lobbyist Portal". www.lobbyists.sa.gov.au. Retrieved 2021-06-14.
  11. ↑ "SA Lobbyists Register - Foley Advisory".
  12. 1 2 "Lobbyist Portal". www.lobbyists.sa.gov.au. Retrieved 2021-06-14.
  13. ↑ "South Australian Register of Lobbyists - Visionary & Enterprising Management Services" (PDF). 2018-05-03. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-05-11. Retrieved 2018-05-11.
  14. ↑ "Lobbyist Portal". www.lobbyists.sa.gov.au. Retrieved 2021-06-14.
  15. ↑ "Lobbyist Portal". www.lobbyists.sa.gov.au. Retrieved 2021-06-14.
  16. ↑ "Lobbyist Portal". www.lobbyists.sa.gov.au. Retrieved 2021-06-14.
  17. ↑ "Lobbyist Portal". www.lobbyists.sa.gov.au. Retrieved 2021-06-14.
  18. ↑ "South Australian Register of Lobbyists - Trustee for The Colt Consulting Trust" (PDF). 2018-03-23.
  19. ↑ "SA Lobbyists Register - Snelling Consulting".
  20. ↑ "Lobbyist Portal". www.lobbyists.sa.gov.au. Retrieved 2021-06-14.
  21. ↑ "Rod Hook upset at losing key infrastructure post". ABC News. 2014-05-09. Retrieved 2018-05-09.
  22. ↑ "Team". Rod Hook and Associates. Retrieved 2018-05-09.
  23. ↑ "Rod Hook & Associates - South Australian Register of Lobbyists" (PDF). 2016-06-29.
  24. ↑ "Lobbyist Portal". www.lobbyists.sa.gov.au. Retrieved 2021-06-14.
  25. ↑ Staff Writer (2011-08-16). "Marathon brings in politicos for Arkaroola fight". Australian Mining. Retrieved 2022-11-03.
  26. ↑ Staff Writer (2012-02-13). "SA Government pays Marathon Resources $5 million". Australian Mining. Retrieved 2022-11-03.
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