Nick Xenophon: From political star to suburban lawyer — a year in review

Nick Xenophon was once one of the biggest stars of Australian politics and for a time, he led opinion polls as preferred premier.Now, he is a suburban lawyer and a new dad, just as he turns 60.

• Nick Xenophon baby: Former SA Best Leader becomes father again

A year ago, Nick Xenophon was a prospect to lead the state, given he was rated as preferred premier just a fortnight before a state election.

Today, he has been spurned by voters, withdrawn from the public spotlight after a 20-year political career and leads only a suburban law practice, at which he works on injury claims and commercial litigation.

At his political peak, Mr Xenophon was a highly influential and charismatic crossbench senator, who was joined by three Nick Xenophon Team colleagues in the Federal Parliament after the 2016 election.

Now he is no longer involved with the parties he created, today known as Centre Alliance and SA Best.

His bid to up-end state politics crashed and burned at last March’s election, with the SA Best party he led failing to win a lower house seat, including the eastern Adelaide seat of Hartley he contested.

Renowned for publicity-catching stunts during a 20-year career in state and federal parliaments, Mr Xenophon was determinedly guarded about his private life, particularly his now-adult son.

Last month, Mr Xenophon turned 60 and became a father for the second time, welcoming a baby girl, Eve, with his live-in partner, who is about 25 years his junior.

He is the principal solicitor at Nick Xenophon and Co lawyers, based on Lower North East Rd, at Paradise. As of next week, he will work alongside three lawyers.

“We will fight for your rights. First consultation free. No obligation. Affordable,” says the publicity blurb, under the news section of his firm’s website.

Mr Xenophon founded the firm in 1984, two years after he started his legal career after graduating from Adelaide University.

“His belief that ‘everyone is entitled to fair justice’ is the foundation upon which the law practice was established and continues to be the guiding light upon which we do business today,” the firm’s website says.

Legal records show Nick Xenophon and Co has represented clients including a man who was seriously injured when he slipped off the back of a vehicle while loading foam panelling, who was appealing a decision to the South Australian Employment Tribunal last December.

Nick Xenophon, the politican, was never dull. Picture: David Mariuz/AAP

But Mr Xenophon has kept his vow, made in the aftermath of last March’s election, to exile himself from the political main street.

He has made public statements only twice: once to endorse the-then Centre Alliance candidate for last July’s Mayo by-election, Rebekha Sharkie, then last December about his decision to quit both the parties he founded.

Centre Alliance Senator Stirling Griff, formerly Mr Xenophon’s political right-hand man, told The Advertiser: “Nick has no official or unofficial role in the party – all of his choosing.

“I have personally known Nick for more than 20 years, have great respect for his passion for fairness and our state and will continue to keep in touch with him on a regular basis. He has achieved much over his political career and his retirement from politics, while a sad event for most South Australians, is a natural progression for him to recharge, spend time with his family and set a new focus for his future.”

Never ever...

... ever dull.

Ms Sharkie, now the Mayo MP, said she talked to Mr Xenophon every so often and had, on occasion, visited his legal office.

She said her former political mentor looked 10 years younger since leaving politics.

“I don’t talk to him about legislation and I don’t talk to him about anything political,” she said.

“Nick would always say when I was a candidate that his intention was to create leaders, not followers. I think Nick was looking at a succession plan for some time.”

Given his allies’ statements and his own aversion to the public eye he once craved, Mr Xenophon seems certain to never attempt a political comeback.

Based on his previous statements, Mr Xenophon’s legal income can be supplemented by both state and federal parliamentary payouts.

While a senator in 2015 he insisted he was not planning to access both schemes because: “I am not planning to retire; I am planning to die while I am working.”

In the same article in The Australian, Mr Xenophon’s state superannuation entitlement was estimated at 41 per cent of his former salary, or about $130,000 annually.

The federal scheme was an accrual scheme, like a normal industry fund, after changes spearheaded by former federal Labor leader Mark Latham in 2004.

It is not known whether Mr Xenophon has accessed the state scheme, which he can take as an annuity or lump sum, but it is believed he has not yet done so.

There also is doubt over whether he is eligible for a parliamentary pension, as opposed to a payout of his contributions plus earnings, given he left the State Parliament voluntarily after 10 years and, therefore, failed to meet a 15-year or five-term minimum requirement.

Like so much about Mr Xenophon, it is somewhat of a mystery. He is an enigma, even in retirement.

Originally published as Nick Xenophon: From political star to suburban lawyer — a year in review