Eclectic group chases outcomes

Unionists, lobbyists, party powerbrokers and industry associations are just some of the many behind-the-scenes influences on government policy making.

The table below lists some of the most influential people and organisations in Western Australia, who either compete with or work alongside ministers, policy advisers and bureaucrats to get the policy outcomes they want.

The Labor Party’s state secretary, Bill Johnston, heads the list after he helped to deliver the Gallop Government a second term in office.

He is believed to be very much in favour with Premier Geoff Gallop, which is ironic given that Mr Johnston is a member of Labor’s ‘old right’ faction, which is closely associated with former premier Brian Burke.

Another influential figure is chamber of commerce and industry chief executive and former under treasurer John Langoulant (see article, right).

The influential union powerbrokers include Australian Manufacturing Workers Union state secretary Jock Ferguson, who is a leader of the party’s ‘left’ faction.

Mr Ferguson can sound like a firebrand militant when he wants to, but he is also considered a pragmatic negotiator who is prepared to sit down with government and industry.

He has been particularly vocal on the issue of Australian content on big projects and is a member of several committees, including the advisory board of the Industry Capability Network, the Manufacturing Industry Co-ordination Council and the WA Skills Advisory Board.

Construction union boss Kevin Reynolds, who heads Labor’s ‘centre left’ faction and works closely with Mr Burke, is another influential figure in the party.

The lobbyists who are currently most influential are, not surprisingly, firms that have strong Labor ties.

These include Hawker Britton, headed in WA by former state MP Megan Anwyl. The firm’s co-founder, David Britton, spent six weeks in Perth early this year helping to manage the state election campaign, illustrating the firm’s close ties to Labor.

Mr Britton and his partner Bruce Hawker have also done a lot of work for Labor federally and in other states.

Another prominent firm is Halden Burns, run by former state MP and state secretary John Halden and former political journalist Anne Burns.

Peter Clough, who has close Labor party ties but also worked for the Chamber of Minerals and Energy and WMC Resources, is another who has moved into the lobbying game.

Former premier Brian Burke and former state government minister Julian Grill are generally, though not universally, acknowledged as being influential figures, despite a banning order imposed by Dr Gallop, who doesn’t want his government associated in any way with Mr Burke.

Woodside executive Gary Gray keeps a low profile but, given his background as national secretary of the Labor Party, is seen as being seriously influential.

Among the industry groups, the Chamber of Minerals and Energy is regarded as respected and an important voice for industry while the Australian Hotels Association, headed by state director Bradley Woods, is seen as being highly effective at achieving negotiated outcomes.

BEHIND THE SCENES

•           Bill Johnston

            ALP state secretary.

•           Dave Robinson

            Secretary, Unions WA. 

•           Jock Ferguson

            State secretary, AMWU.

•           Megan Anwyl

            Director, Hawker Britton.

•           John Halden

            Director, Halden Burns.

•           Brian Burke

            Lobbyist

•           Julian Grill

            Lobbyist

•           Peter Clough

            Clough Consulting Services.

•           John Langoulant

            Chief Executive, Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

•           Gary Gray

            Director corporate affairs, Woodside.

•           Tim Shanahan

            Chief Executive, Chamber of Minerals and Energy. 

•           Bradley Woods

            State Director, Australian Hotels Association. 

•           Kevin Reynolds