The Tobacco Industry’s Party People: links with Australian political parties

Sources:   ASH Australia files;  www.crikey.com  article 6/8/10 “Big Tobacco not just in Liberal pockets – Crikey reveals the Labor links” ; www.linkedin.com; SMH 5/6/11

ALP

Armitage, John      Former ALP candidate. Former Director and Research-Development Director of Auspoll, which has conducted several surveys and projects for BAT – though has recently stopped working with BAT for “ethical reasons”.  Also co-runs (2010) Interconsult which lobbies for BAT.

Cusworth, Steve    Former ALP candidate, now (2010) works at InsideOut Strategic which works directly for Philip Morris and has offices adjacent to Interconsult which also lobbies for the tobacco industry.

Halden, John         Ex-WA ALP secretary and state upper house MP, and (2010) electorate campaign director. Lists Phillip Morris as a client of his firm Halden Burns.

Horne, Melissa      Former ALP national organiser who co-runs (2010) Interconsult which lobbies for BAT.

Ibrisim, Ozan         Former Socialist Left lynchpin and senior adviser to ALP Victorian Health Minister Daniel Andrews. In June 2010 he went to work as Regulatory Affairs manager for Philip Morris.

Kilgour, Adam       Victorian ALP powerbroker, runs (2010) lobbyists CPR who have worked closely with BAT to oppose smokefree laws in various jurisdictions.

Miller, Brett            Director (2010), Civic Group – worked on tobacco industry media campaign against plain packaging (August 2010). Former Chief of Staff to ALP Victorian Gaming Minister John Pandazopoulos and worked for ALP-linked lobbyists CPR to November 2009. CPR has worked closely with BAT opposing smokefree laws.

Newnham, Stephen        Former ALP Victorian State Secretary, co-director (2010) of  CPI Strategic which has done work for Philip Morris.

Puig, Andres         Director (2010), Civic Group – worked on tobacco industry media campaign against plain packaging (August 2010). Former ALP Victorian State Secretary and worked for Labor-linked lobbyists CPR up to November 2009. CPR has worked closely with BAT opposing smokefree laws.

Sibraa, Kerry         Former President of the Senate. Now (2010) General Counsel for Jackson Wells, working with Imperial Tobacco.

Staindl, Phil           Past President of ALP fundraising arm Progressive Business. Now (2010) works at InsideOut Strategic which works directly for Philip Morris and has offices adjacent to Interconsult which also lobbies for the tobacco industry.

Sumich, Jess        Ex-staffer to Minister Jenny Macklin, shareholder (2010) in Interconsult which lobbies for BAT.

Liberal Party

Aldsworth, Jason    Director (2010), Civic Group – worked on tobacco industry media campaign against plain packaging (August 2010). Liberal Parliamentary aspirant, former VP of Vic Liberals.

Argent, Chris         Former Howard Government adviser, now (2011) Corporate Affairs Director, Phillip Morris.

Barry, Tony           Former adviser to Federal Liberal Opposition leader/frontbencher Malcolm Turnbull;  then with Victorian Liberal Senator Michael Ronaldson; then Finance Director at the tobacco-linked Institute of Public Affairs; then (2011) campaign manager of the tobacco-funded Alliance of Australian Retailers campaign against plain tobacco packaging.  

Brown, Rick           Former Liberal staffer, co-director (2010) of CPI Strategic which has done work for Philip Morris.

Denyer, Caroline    BAT employee seconded in 2005 to the WA Liberal Party to work on its election campaign.

Domitrak, Mark      Former Howard Government adviser, now (2011) Head of Corporate Affairs, BAT Australia.

Feely, Nicole         Former senior adviser in John Howard's office, moved to Phillip Morris in 2001 and is now (2010) running hospitals in WA.

Fennell, Bede        Active in the Wentworth Forum raising funds for the Liberals, former head of public affairs at BAT Australia and now (2010) with BAT UK.

Galligan, John       Held several senior positions in the Howard Government including adviser to Minister Bronwyn Bishop. Then worked for BAT as head of Corporate and Regulatory Affairs for six years before moving to Microsoft in 2006.

Greiner, Nick         Former NSW Premier, went on to chair BAT Australasia 1999-2004 and now (2011) heads Nuance Group of duty-free outlets – in 2010, was reported still lobbying governments to ease legislative restrictions on tobacco sale/display in duty-free shops. Appointed chief infrastructure adviser to NSW Coalition Government, April 2011.

Joseph, Adam       Campaign Director, Liberal Party NSW elections March 2011 - seat of Lakemba (Michael Hawatt MP) - followed by short-lived appointment as adviser to Healthy Lifestyles (!) Minister Kevin Humphries. Formerly Regulatory Affairs Manager, BAT 2004-2010. 

Moon, Cheryle       Chief Executive of Alliance of Australian Retailers, front for tobacco industry-funded campaign against plain packaging, 2010. Held several key jobs in the Howard government.

Morris, Graeme      Former Chief of Staff to Prime Minister John Howard. Lobbyist for Barton Deakin whose clients include Philip Morris. Understood to be chief political adviser on 2010 tobacco-funded mass media "retailers" campaign against plain packaging. Described himself (ABC702 30/5/11) as an "adviser" to the tobacco industry.

Mulcahy, Richard   Ex-CEO, Tobacco Institute of Australia (TIA); head of tobacco-sponsored Australian Hotels Association during 1990s, spearheaded aggressive campaign against ACT smokefree public places legislation (1994). Denied receiving support from TIA, but TIA correspondence later confirmed the Institute did provide support to AHA related to blocking/delaying/weakening the ACT legislation. Later Liberal member of ACT Legislative Assembly.