Off the Record: The Lobbyist Edition, and how SA’s political turmoil has them ready and watching

Off The Record: It’s been a week of turmoil in SA politics, and that’s left an army of lobbyists licking their lips.

For some a change of government is the grand realisation, or the bitter end, of a lifelong ambition.

For others it’s an opportunity to make bank, and with Premier Steven Marshall having perhaps just experienced the worst week of his parliamentary career to date, that opportunity seems to be knocking for some.

Former Labor government advisers Brad Green and Matt Clemow have wasted no time reminding Adelaide’s business class that they are there to help, should the Liberals find themselves in the wilderness come March next year.

The pair run Capetal Advisory and previously the associated Property & Consulting Australia and have done admirably well in hanging on to a decent client list through the drought years of a Liberal government.

Former adviser now lobbyist Brad Green (left) pictured in his days as a staffer for then-treasurer Kevin Foley (seated), with fellow staffer Fiona Webber and current opposition treasury spokesman Stephen Mullighan.

Their client list is diverse, running from the Australian Hotels Association through to Lighthouse Disability and even the world’s largest purveyor of darts, Philip Morris.

It’s a far cry from where they sat pre-Marshall however, when they were arguably the pre-eminent SA-focused lobbying outfit.

That mantle now arguably rests with the Christopher Pyne/Adam Howard outfit of Pyne and Partners/GC Advisory, which Mr Howard – the fiance of the Liberal candidate for the Barossa Valley seat of Schubert Ashton Hurn – courageously set up in the days when everyone was predicting a Bill Shorten-led federal government, only to see Scott Morrison romp home and the clients romp in.

GC Advisory’s Adam Howard, Finance Minister Simon Birmingham, former federal minister-now-lobbyist Christopher Pyne and Premier Steven Marshall at the Pyne & Partners launch in 2019. Picture: Keryn Stevens

Across the two firms Mr Howard and Mr Pyne look after Sally Zou’s Aus Food Alliance, Ross Pelligra’s Pelligra Pty Ltd and Michael Hickinbotham’s Hickinbotham Group, according to the lobbyist register.

Capetal certainly senses an opportunity for a triumphant return, however.

Mr Clemow posted to LinkedIn on Wednesday, with spectacular understatement, that there was a “bit going on in saparli this morning”.

“Brad Green and I are doing the below with our clients and supporters. Has been going really well thus far,’’ he said.

“Given the events of yesterday and last night and the ongoing uncertainty ahead – give us a call.’’

Mr Clemow linked to an analysis posted by Capetal on the current state of the state.

“The landscape is busy and more messy by the day,” it reads.

“The ongoing health response, as well as difficult, divisive decisions around how/when to open up and commence the economic recovery will make it a campaign like no other.

“Add to this mix a federal election that must be held before next May, and the state’s 68 local government area going to the polls next November and it’s a congested political landscape.’’

And then the real kicker: “How are you likely to be impacted?” and later, importantly “How we can help”.

“We would love to come spend an hour with your executive or board (or clients) to set the scene and talk through how you might be impacted.”

I bet!

Lobbyist Matt Clemow. Picture: Keryn Stevens

Lobbyist Stephen Halliday.

“The March election campaign also looks set to be played out in new battlegrounds as a growing number of independent MPs declare their hands,’’ Capetal says.

Capetal it seems, whose principals have previously worked for former state treasurer Kevin Foley and former transport and infrastructure minister Pat Conlon – also themselves both registered lobbyists – are just here to help.

Just like the other 100 firms who are on the lobbyist register in South Australia.

Mr Pyne and Mr Howard surely wouldn't welcome a shift to different colours at the next state election, while a big loser would likely be the unashamedly Coalition-aligned firm Barton Deakin.

On the other side of the ledger, Mr Conlon and Mr Foley might find favour, should they so desire, while Labor-aligned Hawker Britton, led by Stephen Halliday locally, would also be looking to grow its client list back from its solitary current earner, property developer JWDT.

Hawker’s pre-2018 election roster included heavy hitters such as McDonald’s Optus, Bunnings, and AMP – a veritable hit parade of big names.

Another serious operator in the lobbying game is Ian Smith’s Bespoke Approach which, while it maintains a short client list, invariably deals only with the upper echelons of the business sector – think Sanjeev Gupta’s GFG Alliance, Nyrstar and the like in the past, and currently legendary private equity firm KKR, Australia’s largest wine company Treasury Wine Estates and in NSW the beleaguered Crown Resorts.

A new recent addition to SA’s lobbyist register is Queensland-based Australian Strategic Advisory, which doesn’t yet list any active clients, while insurance firm IAG has registered in its own right.

TWEET OF THE WEEK

We can’t resist a shout out to former transport minister now lobbyist Pat Conlon for this zinger served up after Premier Steven Marshall swallowed a fly on Tuesday, causing him to have such as raspy voice at a morning press conference he had to explain why.

“I’m guessing that Stephen Marshall didn’t realise at the time that swallowing the fly was going to be the best part of his day,’’ Mr Conlon tweeted on Wednesday.

I'm guessing that Stephen Marshall didn't realise at the time that swallowing the fly was going to be the best part of his day

— Patrick F Conlon (@PatrickFConlon2) October 12, 2021

Of course by the end of Tuesday – just before midnight – the Premier’s former parliamentary colleague Dan Cregan had executed his coup to take the speaker’s chair as an independent.

We’ll forgive Mr Conlon his misspelling of the Premier’s name – maybe he can take a mulligan on that one.

A man for a women’s panel

Meanwhile, Labor’s representative on an upcoming panel that will tackle women’s issues has raised some eyebrows.

Hosted by Women in Media SA, the November 4 “Politics Promises Progress” event will focus on one of the most dominant questions faced by politicians this year: How and what will our political leaders do to address gender injustice?

According to advertising material, the four-strong panel will feature Attorney-General Vickie Chapman, SA-Best MLC Connie Bonaros, independent candidate Stephen Pallaras QC and, from Labor, legal affairs spokesman Kyam Maher.

The government was quick to point out the irony in the selection.