Future Senator Rejects Firm's Advances
Sydney Morning Herald
Monday October 29, 2007
THE powerful Labor lobbying firm Hawker Britton has made its most audacious recruiting bid yet - by trying to snaffle the party's outgoing NSW general secretary, Mark Arbib, before he takes his place in the Senate in July.
Having secured many past senior staff members from Bob Carr's and Morris Iemma's governments, Bruce Hawker, himself a former chief of staff to Mr Carr, confirmed yesterday that he had discussions about a month ago with Mr Arbib about him working for the organisation.Mr Hawker and Mr Arbib both said yesterday that if Mr Arbib had taken up the appointment, he would not have done "lobbying" work, just "campaigning". The appointment was to run from after the federal election campaign to when Mr Arbib took his place in the Senate on July 1."I had a chat with Mark about doing some work with us on campaign-related work, building up our campaign capacity," Mr Hawker said. "We both agreed it would be inappropriate [for him] to do anything in government relations."I'm not just talking about political campaigning, I'm talking about our capacity to do corporate and other campaigns."As long as he confined himself to working in that area, I don't think there'd be anything inappropriate about it but you might have a different view."Hawker Britton has become well known for its ability to allow industry groups to gain access to state Labor governments, and the organisation's power is likely to be enhanced if Kevin Rudd wins. .In April one industry source told the Herald: "It's Bruce Hawker No. 1 and a distant second to anyone else. If you want an opportunity to present your case [to the State Government] you do it through Hawker Britton."The firm's previous employees include the Premier's current communications director, Glenn Byres, and Mr Carr's former communications director and now Mr Rudd's king of spin, Walt Secord. Mr Iemma's former communications director Eamonn Fitzpatrick is now working for the firm.Mr Arbib, who is Labor's No. 1 Senate candidate in NSW, told the Herald yesterday he had knocked back the offer after considering it."I have not made up my mind what I will be doing after the election but I have already ruled out working for or consulting for Hawker Britton in any role."The Opposition Leader, Barry O'Farrell, said of the Arbib offer that there was an "increasing blurring of lines between public interest and Labor interest"."The more elections they have won, the more they run the state like a family company."
© 2007 Sydney Morning Herald