By Kishor Napier-Raman and Liam Mannix
Most retired cabinet ministers can expect a cushy, high-profile retirement, gracing the boards of top institutions, maybe even a plum overseas posting if the government is the right colour.
Former minister Stuart Robert is CEO of a very strange online shopping portalCredit: John Shakespeare
But former Morrison government minister Stuart Robert, whose constant elevation despite a litany of controversies and gaffes baffled everyone in Canberra, has found a slightly more low-grade post-parliamentary job.
Brother Stuie (as Morrison once called him) is now chief executive of online shopping portal Explore My Store, which appears to be a website that collates links to the websites of other companies where you can buy stuff. Think Amazon, but less direct and with a user experience straight out of the 2000s.
While it doesn’t seem like the most sophisticated or disruptive entrant into the e-commerce world, Explore My Store does have a rather grandiose, apocalyptic mission statement, describing itself as staging a “fightback” against “global behemoths like Amazon” who are trying to “destroy Australian retail”.
Those behemoths are, apparently, the source of “lost livelihoods, broken families, associated health issues, [and] community pressures”.
“This is serious! The future of the ‘Lucky Country’ is at stake here,” the site continues.
Looks like Robert, who was once spotted baptising tourists in the Jordan River during a church trip to Israel, hasn’t lost his flair for the Biblical.
The former minister, who owns about a quarter stake in Explore My Store, didn’t return CBD’s calls on Monday. But we’re pleased that now he’s no longer accountable to the Australian public, or pesky rules about conflicts of interest, Robert is free to pursue his business interests unimpeded.
It was something he did with a little too much gusto as an MP.
POWER OFF
News that the Powerhouse Museum in Ultimo is shutting down for three years in February provided some much-needed certainty to the institution’s staff, who are some of the most miserable in the public service.
Just 18 per cent of respondents to a recent internal staff survey thought change was well managed in the organisation, while only 25 per cent thought senior staff provided clear directions for the future of the organisation, down 7 percentage points since 2022.
The survey also found 21 per cent of respondents intended to leave within a year, while 36 per cent hoped to apply for jobs elsewhere in the public service. Of those planning to depart, 42 per cent blamed the poor quality of senior leadership.
Now all this comes against a backdrop of years of uncertainty about the future of the Ultimo site.
In September, the Minns government scrapped a $500 million rebuild flagged by its predecessors, opting for a cheaper $250 million “heritage revitalisation”. Citing rising inflation and cost of living challenges, Arts Minister John Graham promised the balance would go towards schools and hospitals, and vowed to keep the museum open.
By December, the plans had changed again, with the latest announcement about the site’s closure. The $915 million flagship Parramatta site, meanwhile, won’t be ready until late 2025.
No wonder staff are confused.
“The Powerhouse Museum is undertaking a once-in-a-generation transformation as part of the unprecedented program of renewal,” a spokesperson for the museum told us.
“We recognise that times of transition and change can be difficult for staff, which is why we have developed a comprehensive Workforce Transition Plan.”
BUCKLEY’S CHANCE
Multimillionaire businessman Sean Buckley can’t escape the headlines.
The Ultra Tune boss became famous for his company’s risque adverts starring Charlie Sheen and Pamela Anderson. More recently, the company was revealed to be using its marketing budget to pay for its “Rubber Girl” brand ambassadors to star on the front cover of men’s magazines – including some of Buckley’s ex-partners.
Last month, Buckley’s ex-partner was allegedly assaulted at Maxim magazine’s Halloween party – by Mr Buckley’s then-current partner.
And in new court documents, Buckley says a recording of him allegedly assaulting a different ex-girlfriend, Jennifer Cole, was actually … a sex tape.
That assertion was contained in a new statement of claim as part of his ongoing court stoush with Cole and a former employee Anthony Swords over the release of said recording. That is now headed to court with a trial date set for 2025, and how that will end up CBD certainly can’t predict.
Buckley seems to have had one recent win, however. Title records show he’s taken out a caveat on a South Melbourne luxury penthouse formerly owned by billionaire tech entrepreneur Robin Khuda.
While caveats are usually a step towards purchasing a property, an apologetic Buckley told CBD he couldn’t give any more details.
“I can’t really talk about it, unfortunately. If I tell you what the reason is, it will get awkward for you. I’d rather not comment on it.”
STAKE OUT
It’s getting to the point where ARN Media is going to need its own in-house dealing desk for shares in Southern Cross Austereo.
The radio giant, which owns KIIS FM, home of The Kyle and Jackie O Show, recently bought up a 14.8 per cent stake in its rival, laying the groundwork for a private equity-backed takeover bid.
But ARN, which is chaired by former Rugby Australia chair Hamish McLennan, saw its plans dealt a blow on Monday, after the Takeovers Panel ruled its initial stake was acquired in contravention of rules, and ordered a sale of 6.8 per cent of those shares.
The Takeover Panel’s decision, which ARN has promised to have reviewed, not only hinders McLennan’s plan. It’s also good news for Australian Community Media boss Antony Catalano, who along with billionaire Alex Waislitz, had his own counteroffer for a Southern Cross takeover.
Meanwhile, Kerry Stokes-controlled Seven West media launched its own share raid last month, acquiring a 20 per cent share last month, just to complicate matters further.