As director of the Federal Labor Business Forum until August last year, Kate Dykes spent 12 years as the all-important cog in the Labor fundraising machine.

If big businesses wanted Labor’s ear, they needed to be members, coughing up at least $33,000 a year for the privilege. And if politicians didn’t feel like wasting an evening at the Great Hall (before Anthony Albanese banned parliamentary fundraising) or at a private dining room, Dykes was the one telling them it was important. Generally, they listened.