Off The Record: Former Labor treasurer John Dawkins’ daughter wants to take on Georgina Downer in Mayo
ANOTHER South Australian political dynasty is bidding to take on Georgina Downer in Mayo, we reveal in this week’s Off the Record column. Also find out what was behind a minister’s heated spray at an “overtly racist” act, plus we spot a former Premier and PM lunching together.
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ANOTHER South Australian political dynasty is bidding to take on Georgina Downer in Mayo, we reveal in this week’s Off the Record column. Also find out what was behind a minister’s heated spray at an “overtly racist” act, plus we spot a former Premier and PM lunching together.
Dynasty dramas in Mayo
THE battle for Mayo becomes ever more interesting. A new player is potentially setting up a battle of the dynasties in the once blue-ribbon Liberal Adelaide Hills seat.
Alice Dawkins, daughter of former federal treasurer John Dawkins and Maggie Dawkins, an adviser to former Labor leader Kim Beazley, has let Labor headquarters know she is interested in running.
The 24-year-old Dawkins told Off the Record she had been compelled to register her interest after hearing Georgina Downer discussing her connection to the seat. Of course, Downer is the daughter of former Liberal leader Alexander Downer, held from 1984-2008.
“I felt those comments fell flat considering she had tried to be preselected in (the Victorian seat of) Goldstein,’’ Dawkins said. “I think I know it a little more intimately than Georgina.’’
Labor called for expressions of interest last week and is believed to have received around eight.
It’s a change of mind for Dawkins, who said in December she felt uncomfortable seeing herself as a leader.
“People who say they want to be in politics at my age are more interested in power than service,” she said at the time.
Mayo became vacant when Nick Xenophon Team candidate Rebekha Sharkie was forced to quit, another victim of the dual citizenship saga.
Alice Dawkins last year became the first South Australian to win a prestigious Schwarzman Scholarship, an Asian-based rival to the longstanding Rhodes scholarship.
Her father represented two WA seats during almost 20 years in parliament but now lives near Eden Valley, at Mayo’s northern tip. It’s not far from the Gawler River seat of the Dawkins family, a bastion of the Liberal establishment.
Alice Dawkins’ grandfather, Alec Letts Dawkins, went to Prince Alfred College and qualified in medicine at Adelaide University, before heading to Perth just before World War II. Her father’s namesake and second cousin, Liberal John Dawkins, is the state party’s upper house Whip and was electorate officer to Alexander Downer and Nick Minchin. His father, Maynard “Boyd” Dawkins, was an upper house member from 1962-82 and a renowned sheep breeder.
A “wildcard” Greens candidate for Mayo, Major “Moogy” Sumner is also entering the race.
Minister unleashes fury over Labor’s ‘overtly racist stain’
ONE of the more contentious acts in South Australian politics was a 2014 Labor campaign leaflet targeting then Liberal candidate Carolyn Habib.
Anger at the “Can you trust Habib?” pamphlet still simmers and Environment Minister David Speirs brought it to the surface in Parliament this week. Speirs defended Habib, the newly elected Elder MP, and targeted her predecessor, Labor’s Annabel Digance.
“I think what happened to her in the 2014 election is a stain on democracy in this state and a lasting stain on the Labor Party, which was found to be overtly racist,” Speirs told Parliament.
“A deeply inappropriate and unjustified catalogue of disgraceful action was executed by the Labor Party during the 2014 election, and it was not just that single brochure that was dropped into that electorate, as far more happened.
“The member for Elder was harassed on a regular basis by the previous member for Elder and her husband. It was a disgusting thing to watch. It should never be justified and it should go down in history as one of the great sins of this parliament.
“For the Labor Party to continually justify that and not take responsibility for that disgraceful behaviour is lamentable.”
But Speirs did not end there.
“I have heard rumours that she may pop up and make an attempt to be the mayor of Holdfast Bay. I can tell you that I will be doing everything I can in my power to stop that from happening because that woman must never enter public life in South Australia again. I have seen first-hand the damage that she and her campaign did to someone for whom I have immense respect, and that must not occur.”
Off the Record made multiple attempts to contact Digance, including through Labor leader Peter Malinauskas’s office, but she did not respond to our messages.
Two former leaders at a power lunch
NOT long ago they were two of the most powerful figures on the Australian political scene.
Now, with little fanfare and entourage they can enjoy a pleasant lunch unmolested. Well, almost.
Former premier Jay Weatherill and former prime minister Julia Gillard had lunch together at Press on Waymouth St. Weatherill said the pair were “old friends’’ but didn’t elaborate on any particular topic of discussion.
Perhaps they were talking about the future of people close to them. Gillard staffer Marielle Smith is favoured to take the seat of Adelaide which is being vacated by the retiring Kate Ellis. Ellis is keen on being succeeded by Smith.
However, we’re told Hindmarsh MP Steve Georganas intends to put his hand up for Adelaide ifWeatherill mate Mark Butler, whose Port Adelaide seat faces the axe, takes over his current seat.
State Adelaide candidate Jo Chapley is mentioned, along with a mystery contender.
Fresh twist at charity ball
IT’S that time of year when we start talking about the South Australian Mid Winter Charity Ball.
The black-tie event brings together the state’s media, politicians and top corporates for a night of shared revelry to raise money for charity.
This year’s gala will look a little different with freshmen Liberal Premier Steven Marshall and Labor leader Peter Malinauskas.
The 2017 event raised $53,000 — split equally between Kickstart For Kids and the Zahra Foundation.
Channel 7’s Jessica Adamson and Mark Soderstrom will host this year’s event at Adelaide Oval on Friday August 3.
Both in Canberra and Adelaide, these usually off-the-record events have made headlines recently.
“All speeches, videos and details from official proceedings remain off the record,” says the Mid Winter Ball Committee. But, unfortunately, we can’t ensure that private conversations and the behaviour of individuals won’t be reported on.
“At the end of the day, the point of the event is to come together for a good cause and raise money for worthy charities. We encourage everyone to have a great night while doing so.”
Liberal intrigue
CONTRARY to talk of Senator Anne Ruston being under threat from a Liberal Right push for Adelaide City Councillor Alex Antic to snare a Senate spot, it’s actually fellow Right faction Senator David Fawcett who might be wary.
It could be some within the Right are fed up with Fawcett because they think he rarely campaigns for lower house colleagues and doesn’t help drive membership.
But Antic’s elevation to number two on the SA Liberal Senate ticket is far from certain, because many of the old guard prefer stability.
But the threat Mr Antic poses as an active crusader for the right has rival Moderates worried.
Education Minister Simon Birmingham is among those who are backing the current team — Ruston, Fawcett and new recruit Lucy Gichuhi, even though the latter two are from the Right.
Schott a gun
THE architect of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s energy plan, Dr Kerry Schott, is being tipped to lead Infrastructure South Australia, charged with preparing for Premier Steven Marshall a 20-year state infrastructure strategy.
Following Off the Record’s tips for the board last week, we were told Schott is in the frame to be the new body’s independent chairwoman.
Schott has a wealth of experience. She is independent chair of the Energy Security Board, which has proposed a National Energy Guarantee aimed at making electricity more affordable and reliable.
A board member of the nbn, she also was on Infrastructure Australia’s board from 2008-16 and was a managing director of both Sydney Water and Deutsche Bank.
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