Off the Record: Digging up a headache

OFF The Record this week reports how an Adelaide lawyer’s top-secret electoral antics may have got him into strife with his profession; and that we knew long ago WA firm Carnegie was well positioned to install SA’s mega battery before Elon Musk got the kudos.

It all began with Ash Bidhendi trying to set up a meeting with The Advertiser’s Col James.

ADELAIDE lawyer Ash Bidhendi maybe in strife with his profession over his bumbling clandestine antics.

His poorly-executed attempt to obtain dirt on his Liberal mate Vincent Tarzia’s opponent in Hartley, SA Best leader Nick Xenophon, may have backfired in a big way and he is now facing scrutiny by the Law Society.

Liberal Party candidate Vincent Tarzia with Ash Bidhendi looking on.

Off the Record has been told by respected members of the legal profession that Bidhendi’s actions are a clear breach of the Law Society’s code of conduct.

Last week we revealed Bidhendi was fishing for dirt on Xenophon from The Advertiser opinion editor Colin James — no doubt to be used to smear Mr X, a fellow lawyer, in the lead-up to the election.

One senior lawyer said if the Law Society does not launch its own investigation, it was “highly likely’’ several complaints would be lodged.

“You can’t have one lawyer running around soliciting dirt on another member of the profession to be used to discredit them publicly,” he said. “This sort of grubby trawling brings every lawyer into disrepute.”

Section five of the Law Society’s code of conduct is pretty clear on such clandestine conduct — especially the little bit about bringing the profession into disrepute.

Law Society president Tim Mellor said: “Given that the matter has come to the attention of the Law Society via media reports, the society will consider the matter.”

Under its protocols, if the society deems Bidhendi has a case to answer, it refers the matter to the Legal Profession Conduct Commissioner Greg May for a full investigation.

Bidhendi said he was unaware of the development and was “not in a position to comment on any inquiry’’ before hanging up.

Tarzia, who last week declined to say if he even knew Bidhendi — despite Off The Record obtaining a splendid picture of them posing together — reiterated he “did not have anything to do” with the issue and was unaware of the Law Society’s interest.

DOWNER AND OUT IN PALACE AND LONDON

OUR man in London, Alexander Downer, has moved on from triggering an FBI investigation into President Donald Trump’s campaign to hanging out with celebrities like Colin “Mr Darcy” Firth and the Duchess of Cambridge.

Alexander Downer, right, with actor Colin Firth and his wife Livia. Source: Alexander Downer Twitter

After a Buckingham Palace reception this week with the Duchess and Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, Downer also met up with Firth and fashionista wife Livia Firth (left) at a Commonwealth Fashion Exchange.

“Looking at the (palace) photo again it reminds me that, whatever the glamour of London, I’m looking forward to be­ing in SA after Easter,” Downer told Off the Record.

The Duchess of Cambridge and Foreign Minister Julie Bishop with Alexander Downer looking on at Buckingham Palace.

Downer, once mentioned as a potential state Liberal leader, was said to have had his term extended in London to stop him overshadowing Steven Marshall during the campaign. for the March 17 election. If the mutterings about Marshall from some influential business leaders are any guide, some might wish Downer was home months ago to lead the troops.

WITH THE POWER OF FORESIGHT, WE PLUGGED IT A YEAR AGO

IT came as no surprise to us at Off the Record to see a large-scale solar and battery “microgrid” announced by Labor this week for the former Holden site, to be operated by renewable energy firm Carnegie.

In fact, we revealed the plan almost a year ago — ironically enough, on March 17, the date of this year’s state election.

Carnegie is a Perth-based firm whose board includes former AFL chairman and Carlton premiership captain Mike Fitzpatrick.

Carnegie’s board includes AFL chairman and Carlton premiership captain Mike Fitzpatrick.

Off the Record revealed last year that a plan being canvassed in state Labor circles was that the successful bidder for the big battery — eventually built near Jamestown by Elon Musk’s Tesla — would create advanced manufacturing jobs in Adelaide’s north, with the Holden site mentioned in dispatches.

A week later, The Advertiser revealed that Carnegie was searching for a northern suburbs site to build a grid-scale battery, employing up to 150 former car industry workers.

Fast-forward to this week and Premier Jay Weatherill and Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis announced Carnegie would deliver the $8.3 million project at the new industrial and manufacturing hub at Holden’s former site, helped by a $3 million grant from the State Government’s renewable technology fund.

Apart from lacking the star factor and photo opportunity potential of Elon Musk, Carnegie had a strong case for building the big battery.

At the time, Carnegie managing director Mike Ottaviano said the company was assembling the nation’s largest utility battery for the CSIRO’s Square Kilometre Array radio telescope, in Western Australia, employing more than 100 people. He then said demand for similar products around the country and region created the opportunity to forge a new industry — with an Australian company benefiting.