Antinuclear

Guardian Australia has confirmed that the party’s newly elected federal vice-president, Katrina Hodgkinson, has remained in a second role as corporate counsel for one of Australia’s most powerful lobbying firms, Barton Deakin.

It follows concerns raised last year about the dual roles held by the National party president, Larry Anthony, who is also a co-owner and director of SAS Group, which has at times represented the oil giant Santos and Delta Electricity, among others.

Hodgkinson became the Nationals’ federal vice-president last month. She was registered as a third-party lobbyist with Barton Deakin until recently, but removed herself from various lobbyist registers before nominating for the Nationals’ post………

The issue is hardly unique to the Nationals. Party powerbrokers within Labor and the Liberals have also simultaneously held roles as lobbyists.

Sitting on the executive of a party can afford an individual significant power. Executives can wield influence over party policy, fundraising and the organising of campaigns and preselection. They can influence factions, have greater access to MPs and can receive information and research not available to the wider public……….https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/sep/17/top-nationals-pair-hold-senior-roles-at-big-business-lobby-firms