Dunstan by-election: star ALP candidate Cressida O’Hanlon faces ‘serious questions’ over lobbying claims for husband’s defence business

Labor’s candidate battling for the state’s most marginal electorate is under renewed fire amid claims her husband’s business had “preferential” government treatment while she was a political adviser.

Labor’s Federal candidate for Sturt Cressida O'Hanlon with husband James and kids Cy, 14, and Phoebe, 9, at her Evandale home in 2022. Picture: Tom Huntley

Labor’s candidate battling for the state’s most marginal electorate is under renewed fire amid claims her husband’s business received “preferential” treatment while she was a political adviser.

Cressida O’Hanlon, 51, is locked in a bitter by-election fight for the eastern suburbs seat of Dunstan amid controversies embroiling her and Liberal nominee Anna Finizio, 37.

But Ms O’Hanlon, whose integrity has already been questioned in parliament, faces accusations she used her political job to help husband James secure high-level government meetings and taxpayer-funded contracts.

Michael Atkinson, Jennifer Rankine, James O’Hanlon, Cressida O’Hanlon, and Phoebe, 9 at the Oakbank Monday Races, Monday, April 18, 2022. Picture: Matt Loxton

The Opposition said her campaign faced “serious questions” after official documents released under Freedom of Information laws revealed government interactions with Adelaide-based Citadel Secure.

Mr O’Hanlon, a war veteran, 50, is a director of the firm that sells communications infrastructure to countries needing disaster relief.

While Labor “utterly rejected” Liberal “preferential treatment” attacks, senior party officials privately put a “30 per cent chance” on Ms O’Hanlon, a mother of four, winning former Premier Steven Marshall’s seat after he quit politics.

Ms O’Hanlon, who worked part-time for former Labor state secretary, now Upper House Labor MP Reggie Martin, was last month accused under parliamentary privilege of breaching strict lobbying rules over leaked correspondence with her husband.

She last week admitted that a February 7, 2023 email, tabled in parliament, was for “editorial input” for a business pitch to Trade and Investment Minister Nick Champion.

But new FOI documents reveal behind-the-scenes efforts between the five-year-old firm, state government bureaucrats and Commonwealth officials:

MS O’Hanlon had a 30 minute office meeting with Mr Champion on April 13 last year, almost a week after her husband emailed her private Gmail account. The government said the Planning Minister discussed future land use around a major Portrush Rd intersection and not Citadel.

Labor candidate Cressida O’Hanlon Early voting for the by-election in the Electoral District of Dunstan ahead of polling day. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Roy VanDerVegt

HER husband held a 30 minute meeting with Mr Champion in September last year before an adviser introduced him, via email, to two senior Department of Trade and Investment officials.

AN A3 “hard copy” Citadel pack was hand-delivered to Mr Champion’s office but it was not included under FOI. The Liberals alleged a “potential breach” of the State Records Act, which Labor denied.

MR O’Hanlon discussed “expansion plans” in another DTI meeting and sought advice about “further government consultation, funding ideas and pitch … improvements”. He thanked bureaucrats for a “kind offer” for contact with Australia’s export credit agency, economic recovery fund and Foreign Affairs chiefs.

Premier Peter Malinauskas enjoying the Dunstan Adventure Playground in St Peters with his daughter Eliza and Dunstan candidate Cressida O'Hanlon. Picture: Brenton Edwards

A “FAVOUR” was sought from another ministerial adviser to a DTI official in January this year, asking them to advise Citadel an approach was made to Trade Minister Senator Don Farrell’s office. Mr Champion’s chief of staff would then organise a personal meeting.

Opposition spokeswoman Michelle Lensink said the emails implied “lobbying-type activity”.

“It appears that as a result of his email to (his) wife, James O’Hanlon was able to jump the queue to attain a meeting for his business Citadel Secure with Nick Champion,” she said.

“What is unclear is why (his) office requested a ‘favour’ for Citadel Secure.”

In a statement on Saturday, a Labor spokesman said the Liberals had “no criticisms of substance” and denied DTI funds for the firm.

“This is a disgraceful attack by the Liberals on an award-winning small business and a decorated war veteran who served his country with distinction in Rwanda, East Timor and Afghanistan,” he said.

“The Liberals are still unable to articulate what their allegation actually is, nor have they provided any evidence of wrongdoing.”

Mr Champion had met with almost 50 similar defence, space and manufacturing companies, he added.

Liberal candidate Dr. Anna Finizio at pre-voting with Opposition frontbencher John Gardner. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Roy VanDerVegt

Dr Finizio, also a former political adviser, has faced criticism over applying for a Labor opposition job in 2020 and “airbrushing” her directorship of a family business that later failed.

The O’Hanlons did not respond to inquiries.