Hands across the desert

Illustration: Peter Nichsolson.

It’s a quintessentially Sydney eastern suburbs story — and it has just crossed the Nullarbor to the West Australian Republic of billionaire Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest.

We all know that John ­Hartman (the one who fessed up) and his fellow insider trader Oliver Curtis (the one with the tassled loafers) were best friends who fell out once their extra-curricular pursuits came to the attention of the corporate regulator, ASIC.

And it’s well known that Hartman now lives in Perth and works for Minderoo, the private company owned by Forrest — a man with a Pilbara-sized soft spot for a good redemption story.

But — hand on heart — who knew that Oliver had a business relationship with the chief executive of the Yindjibarndi Corporation, Michael Woodley?

Fortescue Metals Group chairman Andrew Forrest. Picture: Colin Murty/The Australian.

It seems their 2½-year ­relationship was meaningful enough for Woodley to provide a character reference — as he has to judge Lucy McCallum, who will sentence Oliver on ­Friday.

That’s the same Woodley who had a major falling out with Twiggy — who was recently ranked Australia’s eighth-richest person with a $3.3 billion fortune — over a vicious land rights dispute.

“I first met Oliver through his father Nicholas Curtis (BBI Group) who I hold as a close friend and a strong advocator in supporting Yindjibarndi autonomy,” Woodley wrote in his court submission.

Oliver was working for his dad’s iron ore junior Rutila Resources, helping out on land ­access negotiations with the Yindjibarndi people.

“(He) is a good man and the Yindjibarndi is honoured to have worked with him,” wrote Woodley.

That’s quite a contrast from Woodley’s famously prickly ­relationship with Hartman’s boss Twiggy over land negotiations with Fortescue.

That went so pear-shaped it inspired a viral YouTube video — “FMG Great Native Title Swindle” — which caused Fortescue no end of heartburn.

Amazing how worlds collide.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6w_fB7e0WCY

Curtis’s benefaction

Before we move on, you may have read that white-collar criminal Oliver Curtis offered the Australian Federal Police $1.4 million.

Stockbroker Oliver Curtis leaves court with his wife Roxy Jacenko. Picture: AAP Image/Joel Carrett.

That’s about the same amount that the then 20-something Curtis made from his insider trading.

Apparently the AFP accepted his kind approach. Who wouldn’t?

Still — coming as it does after he fought the charges for six years — the convicted Curtis’s benefaction is hard to reconcile with his consistent profession of innocence.

Love boat

With his Premier Investments in Mark McInnes’s more than capable hands, Solly Lew is getting set to take a break.

Chairman of Premier Investments Solomon Lew.

The retail billionaire is gearing up to help celebrate his friend Lindsay Fox’s “conception party” in Europe next month, which is being held nine months ahead of the trucker’s actual 80th birthday in April next year. But Lew — who has a fortune worth $2.13bn, compared with Fox’s $2.49bn — won’t be joining Lindsay and his wife Paula and their hundreds-long who’s who guests on “The Love Boat”, as it travels from Athens to Venice.

Instead, Solly is taking his own super yacht on the journey. “The Love Boat: Part Deux” will sail parallel to the Foxes’ floating conception.

All the better to give the Melbourne ragtrader and his newish lady love interest plenty of private time on the high seas.

Top marks

It’s only been six months since Hugh Marks took over the top job at Nine from David Gyngell, but given recent events in Lebanon we are not going to criticise the new boss for taking a holiday.

Nine boss Hugh Marks. Picture: Hamish Blair.

Marks will take next week off and journey with his wife Gayle and their four children north to the warmer climes of Port Douglas. A million miles away from the Middle East.

It’s a milestone trip.

The television exec turns 50 on July 1 and doesn’t want a Fox-style party. Instead, he’s skipping town for a low key celebration.

Before he goes, Marks can expect cake and bubbles in the third floor boardroom at Nine in Willoughby.

He’s going to spend part of his actual birthday watching Nine switch regional network partner from Bruce Gordon’s WIN (after 28 years) to Peter Bush’s Southern Cross following the affiliate deal Marks struck earlier this year.

Tip the bucket

Turning to one of Marks’ high-profile predecessors, Nine chief executive Eddie McGuire, who — as it happens — is also expected to join Lindsay Fox on his Mediterranean Love Boat next month.

Collingwood FC President Eddie McGuire. Picture:Ian Currie.

The rift between the under pressure Collingwood chairman McGuire and his banker counterpart at the Sydney Swans Andrew Pridham is well known.

Still, the Moelis principal has been uncharacteristically quiet as McGuire has sought to
de-bone himself following his comments on Melbourne radio about footy journalist Caroline Wilson. It took two goes for McGuire to apologise to Wilson, who he joked during a match broadcast should be drowned in an ice bath.

While Eddie’s detested Swans haven’t said a word, there is a strong connection to their club in the affair.

We can reveal the obscure Sydney-based blogger Erin Riley — who put the acid on Eddie, which was then picked up by the mainstream press — is a long-time Swans supporter and is a former employee of the club’s PR department.

Riley told us her post on the weekend highlighting McGuire’s inappropriate language around women was all her idea — and, of course, we believe her.

Still we can’t help thinking that Pridham might be enjoying watching McGuire squirm. Just a bit.