Off The Record: Pyne gets a Labor star, Son of Biggles soars, Rex Patrick at city hall
A top public servant in South Australia has called it quits, after leading his team through the devastating pandemic downturn and back out into better times.
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After helping steer the state’s tourism industry to record heights, through the pandemic and back up the other side, South Australian Tourism Commission boss Rodney Harrex is calling it a day.
Mr Harrex, 54, will finish his role as chief executive later this month after nearly a decade in the role and plans a long holiday in SA before looking for fresh opportunities.
He is leaving as interstate visitor spending hit a new post-pandemic record of $1.8bn for the year to March, latest data shows.
The state government will start a global recruitment hunt for a replacement.
Mr Harrex oversaw the SATC as visitor spending hit record highs pre-pandemic, then as domestic spending broke records later in the pandemic.
Tourism Minister Zoe Bettison thanked Mr Harrex for his service noting he led the SATC through extremely challenging times.
“With more than $45m committed to tourism marketing and $40m towards major events, our state is well positioned to recover strongly from the pandemic with a tourism industry that provides thousands of jobs to South Australians,” she said.
Mr Harrex said it had been a privilege to work with many outstanding tourism operators and industry leaders.
“Together we helped our state reach a record high $8.1bn visitor economy, which created jobs and opportunities for thousands of people across the state,” he said.
BRIDGING THE DIVIDE
Liberal powerbroker Christopher Pyne is clearly eager to get on the front foot with the new Albanese Labor government as he tosses aside political affiliations to go into business with a surprising new partner.
Longtime Labor staffer Tony Hodges has joined Pyne’s lobbying firm, Pyne and Partners, as its main man in Canberra.
Hodges’ Labor links go way back until at least 2007. He enjoyed a meteoric rise in the party, becoming an adviser for former prime ministers Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard.
It was in the latter’s government Hodges dramatically resigned after he unwittingly triggered a violent Australia Day protest that put the safety of his boss and then opposition leader Tony Abbott at risk by an angry mob in wild scenes at a Canberra restaurant.
A couple of years later he worked with ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr and then Richard Marles when he was shadow defence minister. His most recent post was with new Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney.
Pyne told Off the Record he was “delighted” to have the Labor man on board.
“We have great connections across government in Australia, but there’s not many former key Labor staffers better connected than Tony,” Pyne said.
Hodges said he “leapt” at the chance to work with Pyne.
“I’ve joined to build the strategic communications business, and because I have a particular interest in defence, space, energy and climate change – policy areas whose complexities are matched by their importance to Australia’s industry, economy and future,” he said.
KEEPING IT IN THE FAMILY
Labor MP and former tourism minister Leon Bignellmay have quietly jetted off overseas this week but there is no such question about the whereabouts of his son, Conor.
The younger Bignell has scored himself a gig as a media adviser in the Premier’s department, and will pick up a tidy $121,896 salary for his efforts.
Not bad, given he graduated from university in May and hasn’t ever worked in the media.
Conor does, however, have an astute political brain, having run his father’s victorious campaigns in the previously marginal seat of Mawson during the past two state elections.
Off The Record also pays homage to his dapper work attire, including ties – a fashion accessory his old man almost always now shuns.
We’re glad there’ll be no shortage of mentors though, with online commentator Tom Richardson shocking many after defecting to the Labor government’s squad of highly paid spinners as Tom Koutsantonis’ adviser.
Also joining the flak ranks is former SBS Radio reporter, Theodora Maios.
TOWN HALL CAPER
Former senator Rex Patrickfuelled speculation he is considering running for Adelaide Lord Mayor by making an appearance at a city council committee meeting during the week.
Patrick sat in the public gallery of the Colonel Light Room at Adelaide Town Hall assiduously taking notes while councillors discussed various matters, ranging from the expansion of Botanic High School to a temporary carpark at Bonython Park.
Missing was one of those said to have recruited Patrick as a lord mayoral contender, North Adelaide ward councillor Phil Martin.
The former public broadcasting boss, who was ill with Covid, and another former journalist turned politician, Frank Pangallo, are rumoured to be behind Patrick’s sudden interest in local government politics.
If he does stand in November’s council elections, it is the first time Patrick, a former naval submariner, has tried to be elected.
He was parachuted into the Senate when flamboyant lawyer and his former political boss, Nick Xenophon, vacated his Canberra spot to have an unsuccessful tilt at state politics.
Ironically, Xenophon contributed to Patrick’s loss in May’s federal election when he made a failed comeback bid for the Senate, taking away votes which would have gone to Patrick.
BUT FIRST, A WORD FROM OUR SPONSOR
It was quite the spectacle as 700 of Adelaide’s who’s who gathered at Adelaide Oval last week to hear the Premier speak at Business SA’s Financial Year Outlook luncheon.
But one man stole the show – and it wasn’t Peter Malinauskas, nor any of his cabinet or leaders of some of SA’s biggest companies.
Kickstarting proceedings, lunchers watched a short video about the event’s major sponsor, premium stadium lighting manufacturer VALO, before founder and chief executive Aaron Hickmann was invited to the stage to the stage to speak.
What followed was an address for the ages – raising some eyebrows in the packed William Magarey Room.
Complete with a quote from Nelson Mandela, the speech covered everything from Mr Hickmann’s schooling journey, his lessons for fellow entrepreneurs, and – though aged only in his late 20s – his legacy.
In fact, at nearly 30 minutes long, it took about as much time as Mr Malinauskas’ financial outlook presentation – though by the time the Premier made it to the microphone, attention spans were waning and the focus of some had shifted to the lunch offerings.
PRAISE FOR THE FOURTH ESTATE
The Premier’s efforts to press the flesh with business chiefs moved to Hindley St this week for the Press Club’s Movers and Shakers networking event at the upgraded Grand Chancellor Hotel.
Mr Malinauskas, almost all of his state cabinet, federal ministers, senators, Opposition Leader David Speirs, Liberal MPs and members of the cross bench rubbed shoulders with almost 100 top business leaders.
More than two dozen blue chip firms attended including Santos, Kelsian – formerly Sealink – BHP, Coopers, Thomas Foods, RAA, Lion, Nova Systems and Electranet.
Both political leaders gave excellent off-the-cuff speeches but Off the Record was particularly pleased to hear Mali’s praise for Her Majesty’s Press, which he said did an admirable job despite the immense online disruption.
SMALL BUSINESS WIN
Continuing with the business theme – another key Labor government appointment has been filled with Nerissa Kilvert taking up the Small Business watchdog role.
Small and Family Business Minister Andrea Michaels has appointed her to a three-year term as Small Business Commissoner, replacing John Chapman, who is now the Construction Industry Training Board chairman.
A private and Crown lawyer, Commissioner Kilvert has spent more than a decade with the state’s consumer affairs watchdog and liquor and gambling regulator.
Ms Michaels said it was an important role overseeing SA’s $45bn small business sector.
Commissioner Kilvert, who has been acting in the role for several months, said key areas of priority including boosting dispute resolution services.
HAPPY RETIREMENT, MARK
It would be remiss not to acknowledge the retirement of long-serving social justice advocate Mark Henley, who has been providing commentary on issues affecting vulnerable South Australians for decades.
Countless journalists have sought Henley’s advice and commentary over the years in his role as advocacy and communications manager for Uniting Communities, one of the state’s most active social welfare agencies.
Henley announced his retirement this week, noting that he would still be involved in advocacy “in a different capacity”.
Which is good news, as South Australia needs people like him speaking up on behalf of the less privileged.
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