Lobbying in South Australia

Various individuals and organisations undertake political lobbying on a variety of issues in the state of South Australia.

Description

Political lobbying is an activity by which organisations or individuals attempt to influence the Government of South Australia in its policy, regulation, and law-making. Since 1 December 2009, lobbyists commercially operating on behalf of third party interests are required to join a register and must also comply with a Code of Conduct. The register was available to the public via the website of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, but from 1 July 2024 moved to the Attorney-General's Department. The list includes the names of registered entities, their employed lobbyists, and their clients.

Senior public servants turned lobbyists

Some lobbyists active in South Australia are former senior public servants. Former CEO of the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure Rod Hook, as of 2018 lobbying as Rod Hook & Associates is an example of this.

Resources and energy sector lobbyists

During the Rann government and later the Weatherill government, significant efforts were made to encourage mineral and energy resource development in South Australia. Government initiatives were welcomed by the private sector, many of which engaged third party lobbyists to further their objectives. Some lobbyists represent these sectors as part of a broader portfolio of interests while others such as Barker Wentworth are more specialised. Crosby Textor is another high profile international lobbying firm active in this area in SA.

Marathon Resources compensation claim

Exploration company Marathon Resources successfully lobbied the South Australian government for compensation after a ban on mining was introduced in the Arkaroola Protection Area, where the company had previously been exploring for uranium. In 2011, the company had three former Labor ministers, a former state Liberal MP and a former federal Liberal minister lobbying for the company or sitting on its board. The company's lobbyists included ALP lobbyist John Quirke, former Liberal MP Graham Gunn, and the firm Bespoke Approach. Chris Schacht was sitting on the company's board during the compensation drive. In 2012, the company was paid $5 million in compensation by the Government of South Australia.

Former politicians turned lobbyists

Many consultant lobbyists in South Australia are former state or federal politicians. As of April 2015 they included :<

Name	Former party affiliation	Political retirement	Lobbying as
Baldwin, Bob	Liberal	2016	Outcomes & Strategies Group
Bolkus, Nick	Labor	2003	Nick Bolkus, Kazaru, Bespoke Approach
Conlon, Patrick	Labor	2014	Patrick Conlon, Conlon Farrell Consulting, Conlon Advisory
Crafter, Greg	Labor	1993	Greg Crafter Consulting
Downer, Alexander	Liberal	2008	Bespoke Approach
Duluk, Sam	Liberal	2022	Capetal Advisory
Elferink, John	Country Liberal	2016	John Elferink
Evans, Iain	Liberal	2014	Iain Evans Consulting
Everingham, Paul	Country Liberal	1987	GRA Everingham
Foley, Kevin	Labor	2011	Foley Advisory, Bespoke Approach
Gunn, Graham	Liberal	2010	Graham Gunn, The Colt Consulting Trust
Henderson, Paul	Labor	2013	Bespoke Territory
Ingerson, Graham	Liberal	2001	Expedite SA, Visionary and Enterprising Management Services, GA & JA Ingerson,
Jeanes, Susan	Liberal		Right Angle Business Services
Lewis, Peter	Independent, previously Liberal	2006	Essential Media Communications
Matthew, Wayne	Liberal	2006	Government Relations Solutions, Govstrat
Olsen, John	Liberal	2001	Bespoke Approach
Portolesi, Grace	Labor	2014	Grace Portolesi Connect
Pyne, Christopher	Liberal	2019	Pyne & Partners, GC Advisory
Quirke, John	Labor	2000	Pallidon, The Colt Consulting Trust
Reith, Peter	Liberal	2001	Peter Reith
Snelling, Jack	Labor		Snelling Consulting
Santoro, Santo	Liberal	2007	Santo Santoro Consulting
Schacht, Chris	Labor	2002	Chris Schacht
Wright, Michael	Labor	2014	Michael Wright