This Month
- Analysis
- Anthony Pratt
Will that be Mr Pratt, Sir Anthony or Colonel?
The Melbourne billionaire toyed with the idea of receiving a knighthood from King Charles III, whose charities he supported.
- Aaron Patrick
‘If Abbott and Keating are getting money, who else?’
A public integrity advocate says reported payments to ex-prime ministers by Anthony Pratt raise broader concerns about the payment of pensions to retired politicians.
- Aaron Patrick
Qatar lobbyist spotted in Qantas Chairman’s Lounge
Eamonn Fitzpatrick went deep behind enemy lines, and didn’t pass unnoticed.
- Updated
- Myriam Robin
The Aussie tech start-up trying to crack the corridors of Westminster
GovConnex, a tech platform for lobbyists, is barely out of the blocks at home but already eyeing up Britain. Here’s their plan to get a foot in the door.
- Hans van Leeuwen
Bran Black has the hardest job in Australia
The new boss of the lobby group for big business is described as “Mr Nice Guy”, but that will do nothing to push back against the government’s enthusiasm for drowning business in new regulations.
- John Roskam
Mike Pezzullo confidant Scott Briggs vanishes
The funny thing is, Briggs joined DPG Advisory Solutions after his closeness to Scott Morrison and other Coalition figures made his old job untenable.
- Updated
- Myriam Robin
September
Parliamentary committee refers Stuart Robert to the NACC
A parliamentary committee has asked the agency to take over investigating government contract decisions made by former Liberal cabinet minister Stuart Robert.
- Tom McIlroy
- Exclusive
- Superannuation
Big industry super unites in political lobbying power play
A new “big eight” of superannuation funds will dominate the $3.5 trillion retirement savings system with a lobby group dominated by Labor heavyweights.
- Joanna Mather and Hannah Wootton
Chemists protest medicine rule change in angry walk out
Hundreds of pharmacists disrupted parliament question time on Monday.
- Tom McIlroy
- Opinion
- Qantas
The end of the house of 10,000 favours
A secretive VIP booking unit was at the centre of a decades-long campaign to make Qantas Australia’s most influential company.
- Aaron Patrick
August
Why Liberals fear Boris Johnson’s go-to pollster has lost its touch
NSW and Queensland officials are worried that CT Group can’t help the party woo younger voters, women and some ethnic groups.
- Samantha Hutchinson
How big business busted a lobbying bureaucracy
The founding CEO of the Business Council of Australia explains how the lobby group was created 40 years ago, and its influence on public policy.
- Geoff Allen
Meet Bran Black: how Macquarie Street’s Mr Nice Guy got the BCA gig
He’s the congenial politico who has spent his career building consensus behind closed doors. And now he’ll represent big business to government. Is he ready?
- Samantha Hutchinson
ScoMo’s ex-policy wonk suing lobbying firm
For Labor lobbyists, these are the years of plenty. For everyone else, not so much.
- Myriam Robin
Victoria’s definition of ‘corruption’ fails the pub test: ex watchdog
Former IBAC head Robert Redlich says misconduct uncovered by an inquiry he ran should amount to corruption, and the rise of political advisers in Victoria is not serving the public interest.
- Updated
- Gus McCubbing
June
- Exclusive
- Political leadership
Business lobby groups captured by Andrews: insider
Former Victorian Property Council head Danni Hunter says groups like the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry are “compromised” by their reliance on grants.
- Patrick Durkin
‘Influential roles’: Lobbyists paid handsomely, survey shows
One of the first independent surveys of lobbyists and government relations executives in Australia has found average pay in the industry is more than $180,000.
- Updated
- Tom McIlroy
May
‘Bleak’: No work for Liberal lobbyists because Labor keeps winning
Grahame Morris, a former chief of staff to John Howard, has left his long-time job at conservative lobby shop Barton Deakin, which is facing an uncertain future after Liberal defeats in every mainland state.
- Samantha Hutchinson
Lobbyists rail against ‘unfair’ federal reforms
The Centre for Public Integrity says the federal lobbying code should be legislated, with possible criminal sanctions, but lobbyists say the centre doesn’t understand how government works.
- Tom Burton
April
Ben Wyatt and Stuart Ayres top BCA chief executive shortlist
Australia’s first Indigenous treasurer and the former NSW Coalition minister are said to be the final two candidates to replace Jennifer Westacott.
- Tom McIlroy
