Off the Record: Andrew Garrett’s crypto-curiosity; Hieu will be our next Governor; legal profession rallies around Heather Stokes

Why is bankrupt ex-winemaker and alleged tax fraudster Andrew Garrett launching his own $5 billion cryptocurrency? And who will be SA Governor from September? Off The Record reveals all...

• Meet Andrew Garrett: His extraordinary history

Why is bankrupt ex-winemaker and alleged tax fraudster Andrew Garrett launching his own $5 billion cryptocurrency? And who will be SA’s Governor from September? Off The Record reveals all...

Former winemaker, bankrupt, vexatious litigant and alleged tax fraudster Andrew Garrett is entering the exciting and potentially lucrative world of cryptocurrencies.

High risk, high reward?

Former winemaker Andrew Garrett may be facing court over allegedly stealing $6 million from the taxman, but it doesn’t appeared to have crimped his entrepreneurial style.

Garrett this week posted on Facebook details of a $US5 billion cryptocurrency his company OenoViva Capital Resources appears to be planning to launch. After all, Bitcoin is so 2017.

Details are somewhat murky but the “Viva” coin appears to be secured against, well, Australia, and everything in it.

As they say, buyer beware!

Garrett — whose name still appears on the sparkling shiraz that made him famous, although he no longer owns it — once claimed on a sugar daddy website he was “worth $10 million or more” and in 2006 was declared a vexatious litigant after filing a flurry of lawsuits. He is now awaiting trial on tax fraud charges in the District Court — he has pleaded not guilty.

Hieu’s our next governor?

Former foreign minister Julie Bishop might have grabbed the headlines but the hot tip remains that popular incumbent Hieu Van Le is soon to be reappointed as the state’s Governor.

As we predicted a year ago, and again in February, His Excellency’s term is likely to be extended for another two years when his nominal five-year appointment expires in September.

This would postpone Premier Steven Marshall’s quest to appoint a female governor until about six months before the next state election in 2022. Van Le has impressed Liberal insiders with his enthusiasm, energy and politesse and Marshall is said to be close to announcing the extension.

Governor Hieu Van Le is tipped to remain in the role. Picture: Mike Burton/AAP

We canvassed Bishop as an option in February, when she was still in parliament, ahead of the May election. At the time, Liberal sources said her intentions were unclear, even though it was last month reported she had declined an informal offer.

As much as the Liberals would love to install business titans such as BHP director Carolyn Hewson or Normandy Mining founder Robert Champion de Crespigny, they prefer to retain their privacy and eschew the formality and procedure the vice-regal role entails.

Military, judicial and other service types tend to be more comfortable with ceremonial functions such as Executive Council, at which the Governor signs documents into law.

Among those also said to have been considered include Susan Neuhaus, a distinguished surgeon and former army officer, who became embroiled in a boardroom battle at disability provider Minda.

Another Marshall favourite and possible future candidate is former BHP Olympic Dam mine chief Jacqui McGill, the TAFE SA chair who is on the Art Gallery of SA board and the Premier’s Economic Advisory Council.

The lengthy process to appoint a governor includes multiple letter exchanges with the Queen. But incumbents serve at Her Majesty’s pleasure, so extension is simple.

Legal eagles rally for injured colleague

The Adelaide legal fraternity was shocked when high-profile lawyer Heather Stokes was critically injured in January while crossing Main North Rd. Stokes is recovering from a multitude of serious injuries including a spine that was fractured in three places, as well as broken ribs, and broken right knee and pelvis.

She has been unable to work since the accident and now a GoFundMe page has been established to raise money to help her as she continues her rehabilitation.

A GoFundMe page has been set up for lawyer Heather Stokes, who was badly injured in a traffic accident. Picture: Matt Turner

“Given that she is a fair way from being assessed as able to return to work, and that her assets are not accessible to turn into ready cash at the moment, her treatment and ongoing care support are at risk of drying up,’’ the page says.

Stokes told Off The Record rehab was a “glacial progress’’ and she would be reassessed in a few months to see if she could return to work.

“Getting back to work is certainly taking longer than I had hoped and expected, but not surprising to the professionals,’’ she said.

Stokes said she did not ask for the fundraising effort “but I’m not earning any money and I’m not even receiving a pension at the moment”.

SACA’S first lady ends her historic innings

The first female board member of the South Australian Cricket Association in 139 years, Andrea Slattery, has stepped down to focus on a flotilla of high-powered corporate directorships.

Andrea Slattery has stepped away from the SACA wicket to focus on her business commitments.

In 2010, Slattery was appointed to SACA’s board to fill a casual vacancy and was then elected by members the following year.

At the time, her appointment was front-page news, partly because it came amid intense debate about whether to go ahead with the ultimately successful $535 million redevelopment of Adelaide Oval.

In an email to SACA members, Slattery said it had been “a rare privilege” to have worked with SACA and “to have been involved with the redevelopment of the Adelaide Oval”, which had created “a new future for cricket and our state”.

SACA president Andrew Sinclair said Slattery’s business commitments were “now consuming more of her time”.

Taking a look at her LinkedIn profile, that’s hardly surprising.

In February, she was appointed to the AMP board. Slattery was, at that time, the only woman, following the departure last year of four female directors, including former chairman Catherine Brenner in the wake of the banking royal commission fallout.

In May, Slattery was appointed a director of AMP Life and AMP Bank.

Since February last year, she has been a director of the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, which is responsible for investing $10 billion in clean energy projects on behalf of the Federal Government.

Since 2015, she has been a director of Adelaide-based Argo Global Listed Infrastructure, an ASX-listed investment company.

Until April, she had been at the Self Managed Super Fund Association for 16 years, including six as a director and 14 as MD/CEO.

History pays a visit to Palazzo

Another example this week of how little really changes in politics, no matter who is technically in charge.

Kicking back at the Palazzo Versace on the Gold Coast.

Chief opposition irritant Tom Koutsantonis issued another thundering press release, this one decrying the fact that Premier Steven Marshall had indulged himself by staying in the “luxurious 6-star Palazzo Versace hotel on the Gold Coast’’, at a time when his government was increasing fees and charges.

Even better, Marshall was at an event that included Anthony “the Mooch” Scaramucci, who survived 10 days working with US President Donald Trump.

But if we wind back to 2005, Rob Lucas, the Tom Koutsantonis of his day, was also using the Palazzo Versace to score political points against the government. Back then, the argument centred on public servants who had attended a conference at the swanky hotel.

The lesson, though, should be clear. Staying at the Palazzo Versace may prove uncomfortable, even if it’s rated six stars.

Chief Gone

There’s been movement in Tourism Minister David Ridgway’s office. Off The Record’s spies say Ridgway’s chief of staff, Scott Kompo-Harms, has packed up his office after being informed his 12-month contract would not be renewed. The former National Farmers Federation general manager’s LinkedIn page still says he works for Ridgway, but a Government spokeswoman confirmed he’d moved on, and that a permanent replacement would be appointed “soon”.

Power poll

Seat declarations after elections are usually a staid, formal affair with few attendees.

But a high-powered crowd turned up for newly minted Sturt MP James Stevens’ ceremony this week at the AEC’s city headquarters.

Premier Steven Marshall was there to see his former chief of staff, as was Deputy Premier Vickie Chapman, ministers David Pisoni and Stephen Wade, along with federal Cabinet ministers Simon Birmingham and Anne Ruston. Stevens’ predecessor, Christopher Pyne, also popped in.