Victorian lobbyists blur line with ALP ‘mates’

Newly elected Labor MPs were quick to line up to lavish praise on three factional heavies, who are now also political lobbyists

Lobbyist Mat Hilakari. Picture: Damon Johnston

Victorian Labor MPs have lined up over several years to heap parliamentary praise on three factional powerbrokers who are now ALP-aligned lobbyists involved in carving-up seats ahead of next year’s state election.

Hansard records show that a number of newly elected Labor MPs delivering maiden speeches chose to pay tribute to Mat Hilakari, Alan Griffin and Kosmos ­Samaras, who wear two hats as registered political lobbyists and active factional players.

Mr Hilakari, the secretary of the Socialist Left, is one of the most influential figures within the ALP and is listed on the lobbyist register along with the company that employs him, The Shape Agency.

Before he was listed on the registry, six Labor MPs thanked him in their inaugural speeches in the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council.

MLC Lee Tarlamis nominated Mr Hilakari as a friend “I have been blessed to have … on my journey through life so far”.

In February 2019, Labor MP Ingrid Stitt paid tribute to the “guidance, support and wise counsel” of Mr Hilakari and Mr Griffin. Lower House MP Will Fowles, shortly after being elected in the 2018 “Danslide” election win, nominated Mr Hilakari as being among a number of people who had made “special contributions to my passage here”.

Labor MPs Gabrielle Williams and Paul Edbrooke also singled out Mr Hilakari after Labor’s 2014 election victory for “dedicating time and energy” and his “tutoring and patience”.

The involvement of the three registered lobbyists in the Victorian ALP’s preselection deal was confirmed when they attended talks on Monday night at the Transport Workers Union office in Port Melbourne.

Their involvement has focused a spotlight on the ethics of lobbyists being involved in determining the fate of MPs who they may later lobby on behalf of private business clients.

A handful of Labor MPs thanked Mr Griffin for his help in getting them elected. “There is no wiser counsel than Alan Griffin, a Labor great who knows how to tell a great Labor story. Thank you, Alan,” Labor MP Pauline Richards said in February 2019.

Mr Tarlamis, in June 2019, paid credit to Mr Griffin in glowing terms. “In my life I have made friendships with people who remain strong influences in my personal and political life today — people like Alan Griffin,” he said.

Labor MPs also queued up to thank Mr Samaras, a long-time assistant state secretary of the Victorian ALP and a key party strategist who helped pull off the 2018 thumping of the Liberals. Upper House MP Enver Erdogan, in August 2019, described Mr Samaras as a “champion of manufacturing workers” and thanked him for his “guidance”.

In March 2019, MP Lizzie Blandthorn said: “I know a number of people in this chamber have already thanked Kosmos Samaras. I have always thought that I would not become that annoying candidate for Kosmos, but I think this time I did. Thank you to Kos for his advice and support.”

Premier Daniel Andrews has defended the Labor lobbyists’ engaging in the preselection process, saying the involvement of the trio from his Socialist Left faction in a process that could determine the fate of Labor MPs and ministers was above board.

“Being a member of a political party is completely appropriate if that is the choice you make. And being an active member of a political party is something you can choose to do,” Mr Andrews said.

“They (the political lobbyists) are free to attend whatever meetings they wish to attend. They have made it clear … that they ­behave appropriately.”