Off the Record: Kevin Foley’s new SkyCity Casino gig
We need to talk about Kevin – well, the former treasurer’s new gig. Also in this week’s Off The Record, the big names at Adelaide Oval for the Test and strange goings-on at a local AGM.
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In this week’s Off the Record, we reveal former treasurer Kevin Foley has a new gig, while the big names are at Adelaide Oval for the Test and strange goings-on at a local AGM.
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Foley back in lobby game
Former state treasurer Kevin Foley is back on the lobbying circuit, giving SkyCity Adelaide Casino a few hints on how to play their cards right.
Foley told Off The Record that he previously stepped back from lobbying when he took on his former role of chairman at Funds SA, as it would have been a conflict. He was at one time associated with lobbying powerhouse Bespoke Approach, in the glory days when it counted former foreign minister Alexander Downer and former Labor senator Nick Bolkus as consultants, along with founder Ian Smith, who still has a healthy crop of high-profile clients.
Foley said he wasn’t aggressively targeting new clients and wouldn’t shed any light on the specifics of his role with SkyCity, but said it was more about general advice than direct government lobbying per se.
As we know in Adelaide there’s only ever one degree of separation, and in this case the former treasurer will be rubbing shoulders with leading SA businessman Bruce Carter who is a non-executive director on the SkyCity board.
Foley and Carter, as we reported last year, are both involved in the BASK Gili Meno beachfront development involving 87 luxury villas “on the number 1 beach in Indonesia’’.
It’s so good even Baywatch and Knight Rider star David Hasselhoff has bought a villa there.
Foley also used to lobby for shipbuilder ASC, which Carter chairs.
SkyCity, which is currently building a large expansion in Adelaide, said in a statement from local general manager David Christian it employed Foley “to assist the Adelaide management (to) work through the substantial number of regulatory matters as it prepares to open its expanded facility in 2020.
“Kevin’s background and knowledge in South Australian regulatory requirements is invaluable to the Adelaide management in preparing for a successful expansion next year.”
-Cameron England
Who to spot at Adelaide Oval Test this year
Adelaide Oval is always a fine place for people spotting during the Test match but this year’s event promises some rare opportunities.
Perhaps most notable is legendary Australian fast bowler Dennis Lillee, who is making a rare appearance at the ground at which he made his Test debut against England in 1971 (he took 5/84 in the first innings). We’re told Lillee has not been to Adelaide for a Test for a decade or so.
He is a guest of Cricket Australia, along with Neil Harvey, the final surviving member of Sir Donald Bradman’s Invincibles (the team that did not lose a match on its 1948 Ashes tour of England). Former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd spoke at Wednesday night’s SACA Members’ Test Match Dinner and is expected to stay on.
Adelaide screenwriter, director and cricket tragic Scott Hicks is also expected, as is former Carlton coach David Parkin.
The first British-born Muslim to play County cricket, Wasim Khan, is attending in his relatively new role as the Pakistan Cricket Board’s chief executive – he took over in February.
Cricket Australia chairman Earl Eddings and CEO Kevin Roberts will be there, naturally, and Premier Steven Marshall and Opposition Leader Peter Malinauskas – both keen cricket fans – will be delighted to be Cricket Australia guests.
It was the best of times …
Beston chairman and local Australian Institute of Company Directors boss Roger Sexton redefined “best practice” this week as not disclosing a massive protest vote against the company’s remuneration report to shareholders before they voted at a meeting.
The two directors voted in at the meeting also had resounding votes against their re-election, but shareholders didn’t find out until well after the meeting closed.
If this is best practice we’d better let BHP, Santos et al know, because they’ve been doing it wrong for years, what with their disclosures and transparency. Sexton argued that disclosing the votes could sway voters at the meeting so secrecy was the best policy.
That argument won’t hold water next year, as the company will be facing a second strike trigger that could lead to a vote to spill the board – which by definition demands disclosure during the meeting. The AICD said full disclosure was usual but was at the chair’s discretion.
– Cameron England
No Deal!
News that Caltex is in the sights of a takeover predator spurred the predictable speculation about whether OTR owner Peregrine was in the sights of private equity buyers.
While The Australian reported one group was keen on buying both Caltex and Peregrine and rolling them together, Peregrine director Sam Shahin confirmed through a spokeswoman they weren’t a seller.
The speculation must get annoying at times. Enough to drive you around The Bend.
Simon said
Another Labor stalwart has seen his time on a government board come to an end.
This time it’s Simon Blewett whose term has expired on the board at the State Theatre Company. Blewett quit as chief of staff to Premier Jay Weatherill after the 2014 election.
He has been replaced by David O’Loughlin, chief executive at ad agency kwp!, and a former SA Tourism Commission exec. In a happy coincidence, O’Loughlin’s firm worked with the federal Liberals during the election campaigns earlier in the year.
Rising son
Labor MP Leon Bignell likes to project himself as something of a man of the people. Even, it seems, when are no immediate votes to be had.
Bignell was wandering down King William St this week when he spotted a couple of confused-looking Japanese tourists.
Bignell stopped to ask if all was OK and it turned out they were lost and looking for Parliament House. So, the pollie turned tour guide.
“There are no public tours on sitting days so I gave them a personal tour,’’ Bignell posted on social media.
