Lobbying in South Australia

Parliament House, South Australia
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.

Former politicians turned lobbyists

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Alexander Downer
Alexander Downer

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

Name Former party affiliation Political retirement Lobbying as
Baldwin, Bob Liberal 2016 Outcomes & 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 Labor 1993 Greg Crafter Consulting
Downer, Alexander Liberal 2008 Bespoke Approach
Duluk, Sam Liberal 2022 Capetal Advisory[7]
Elferink, John Country Liberal 2016 John Elferink[8]
Evans, Iain Liberal 2014 Iain 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 Labor 2013 Bespoke 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 Labor 2014 Grace Portolesi Connect[16]
Pyne, Christopher Liberal 2019 Pyne & 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 Labor Snelling Consulting[19]
Santoro, Santo Liberal 2007 Santo Santoro Consulting
Schacht, Chris Labor 2002 Chris Schacht
Wright, Michael Labor 2014 Michael Wright[20]

Senior public servants turned lobbyists

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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

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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

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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

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Lobbying

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References

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  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. ^ a b "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. ^ a b "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. ^ a b "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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