Former premier Steven Marshall ‘withdraws’ confidential application to secret Adelaide Club – for now
Mystery surrounds a decision by ex-premier Steven Marshall to withdraw his bid to join SA’s most exclusive men’s club – for now. But multiple reasons have been suggested.
Former premier Steven Marshall has abandoned his bid to join South Australia’s most exclusive men’s club – for now.
In an unusual move, the former Liberal Party leader has withdrawn his application to become a member of the 159-year-old Adelaide Club after his request became public.
Mr Marshall, who lost office after just one term at the March state election to Labor leader Peter Malinauskas, 42, applied to join one of Australia’s oldest gentlemen clubs with help from two influential member backers.
But under club rules, Mr Marshall, 54, can reapply at a later date because the club’s 1500 members – the who’s who of SA’s business, political, legal, medical and judicial elite – did not reject his application.
While rare for a candidate to withdraw their application, it is not unprecedented.
Former Labor premier the late John Bannon walked away from joining the club amid a backlash over the State Bank scandal.
Another leading businessman, who cannot be named, also recently withdrew.
Mystery surrounds the reasons why Mr Marshall, a father of two of Norwood, changed his mind although some say it is tactically wise.
Multiple sources suggested it was because of the blaze of publicity his application generated after the Sunday Mail revealed his push to join the club.
But others said club speculation also centred on an internal backlash over decisions he took as premier.
“Ordinarily, a former Liberal premier would proceed, no problems,” said one senior member. “Something mysterious has happened. It’s odd.”
Another said the publicity had hurt. “It’s very rare for people to withdraw,” they said. Documents showed leading businessman Geoff Rohrsheim, 54, of North Adelaide, proposed Mr Marshall to club members – a move seconded by former federal foreign minister Alexander Downer, 70, of Leabrook.
Internal papers revealed Mr Marshall, whose Dunstan electorate is now a marginal seat, gave members an “advance notice of candidature”.
But new papers sent to members in the past fortnight show Mr Marshall’s name has disappeared.
The other three candidates who appeared alongside him last month – two businessmen and an accountant – are subject of an October 4 ballot.
Urban legend states the Legislative Council’s 2.15pm question time start during sitting weeks stems from Adelaide Club members having time to return from lunch.
Neither Mr Marshall – who has continued serving the state in an unofficial role pitching for tech jobs and investment during a trip to North America – nor his two backers returned calls or responded to inquiries.
