Federal Government
GO AHEAD, MAKE OUR DAY: Bruce Hawker threatens to sue VEXNEWS for speaking truth to his power
Sleazy millionaire lobbyist Bruce Hawker has denied being paid by the rich Rudds to run Kamikaze Kev’s doomed leadership campaign and has threatened to sue what he – with little sense of irony – refers to as the “discredited” VEXNEWS. Hawker, a mouthpiece of Macquarie bank, pokies operators and lobby groups, pay-day lenders and Sydney developers opined:
“Everyone who knows Vex News knows it has no credibility whatsoever,” he said.
Except when we so very often break the stories that shape the nation.
Hawker’s dummy-spit followed Barrie Cassidy on Insiders drawing attention to our story on Mr Hawker’s sleazy role as Rudd’s faceless man lobbyist. Bumbling Bruce wasn’t even asked about these matters when he sauntered on in the hot sun and volunteered a statement to bemused scribes, wondering whether it might all have been an acid flashback to Brucey’s misspent youth.
His carefully worded non-denial denial included an assertion that he stopped being a lobbyist from May 2010 before working in the Rudd PMO in its dying days. But what about what went on before May 2010? We are reliably told that he slithered around the PMO in an unpaid informal advisory capacity long before May 2010, a fact well-known throughout the Labor caucus and indeed the Canberra Press Gallery. He even maintained a desk in that office, prior to then, a scandalous situation, in our view. A scandal hidden in plain sight.
Hilariously Hawker’s dummy-spit was broadcast on SkyNews at the speed of live, which is the closest thing to an ad we’ve had in a while. Although it was definitely an attack ad (our favourite kind):
“It’s (the VEXNEWS voice of victory) not a good source of information and I’ll be talking to my lawyers about Vex News in the next few days.”
Oh, please do, Brucey babe, you sleaze bag. No amount of cheap threats of high-priced legal action will silence us. Indeed, litigation could serve the public interest well, as we explore, using the discovery process, exactly how much time a millionaire lobbyist spent occupying space in the Prime Minister of Australia’s own office.
The matters of which Hawker does stand accused:
■ Indecently maintaining a desk in the Rudd Prime Minister’s office in breach of every conceivable guideline and ethical doctrine while still at his Hawker Britton lobbying firm (He has not denied this, indeed it has been written about elsewhere, it was no secret, he maintained a regular presence in the Rudd PMO from the get-go, remaining a lobbyist all the while. There ought to be a law against it. There probably is.)
■ Doing over his mate David Britton for millions in the sale of Hawker Britton to STW (Hasn’t denied that either);
■ Boasting not-so-privately of having some kind of sordid secret agreement with Kevin Rudd to become his chief-of-staff in the mercifully unlikely event that Rudd would be back in the PMO (He hasn’t denied that either and that at least would be a more honest arrangement than the 2007-2010 one where he was an unpaid adviser to the PM while whoring out his access for multiple millions to some of Australia’s richest companies.)
With typical sleazy Sydney spin-doctoring sneakiness, Hawker has denied being paid to lobby for Rudd by Rudd. But no-one has suggested that, certainly we don’t. Hawker made about $15M from his sale of the firm Hawker Britton and Rudd’s missus has over $1 billion in contracts from the UK government, so there’s really no need for millionaires to be paying each other. Immediately at least. The pay-off can wait for another time and would be substantially more than a measly per diem for spinworks and promising campaign donations to stray caucus votes. Yes, Bruce, we know about that.
So panicked and attention-hogging was the incorrigible rogue Hawker by Barrie Cassidy’s report that he must have sat in the Rudd house for some time, carefully planning his words in an attempt to put out this latest Rudd bushfire. He managed to throw petrol on it. His non-denial denial of an improper previous arrangement with Rudd and his meddling in the Labor caucus only served to highlight the ugliness. The threat of litigation was comedy gold that only fired up the inferno. For that we thank him. And wish to assure readers – as we tweeted – that VEXNEWS has not – to my knowledge – paid Hawker for any promotional services and that he appears to be working in an unpaid capacity.
We like forward to some Alan-Howe-style banter in the days and weeks ahead.
We have accused Hawker of acting quite inappropriately and stand by every word of it.
Certainly he has failed Campaign 101 by making himself the issue. Queensland Premier Anna Bligh – herself struggling to get clear air over the carnage caused by Rudd’s coup attempt – would do well to shun Hawker from her own campaign going forward, given the high probability of him causing significant distraction in her campaign too. Hawker clearly is in need of a holiday, like most fools he seems to hurt those closest to him the most, which would be made slightly less likely if he flew off to Phuket for a few cocktails and a spot of ping-pong. We hear she’ll probably take him back, itself a bit of an embarrassment. Many think it’ll be Hawker’s last Labor campaign for a long time as he lives down the embarrassment and disgrace associated with Rudd’s failed and fundamentally pointless bid for leadership that seemed to be about nothing other than his own personal vendetta.
Needless to say, we will vigorously defend any legal proceedings brought by the former prolific influence-peddler Hawker. We doubt he’ll have the bottle. If he does pony up, we look forward to using legal process to shed more light on the exact nature of his extraordinary arrangements in the Rudd PMO that in most countries would be unlawful and certainly should be here.
5PM UPDATE: Stephen Mayne – not someone we have probably ever favourably quoted before – observes correctly that Hawker was still Chairman of Hawker Britton despite not being on the lobbyist register on 24th May 2010 when he has claimed to be in the Rudd PMO. Of course, should there ever be litigation on the subject, the truth of lobbyist Hawker’s unprecedented access to the Prime Minister’s inner sanctum will be laid bare. Something to look forward to. VEXNEWS understands that Hawker was still sending/responding to emails to his bhawker@hawkerbritton.com.au address in late 2010. He is a lying liar who lies.
8PM UPDATE:
Bruce Hawker is one of Australia’s pre-eminent political and communications figures. He has an unparalleled reputation as a campaign professional forged over 30 years working at the highest levels of government and corporate Australia. Bruce is founder and Managing Director of Campaigns and Communications, a company specialising in corporate and political campaigns. Before establishing C&C, Bruce founded Australia’s leading government relations practice, Hawker Britton. Bruce also served for nine years as Chief of Staff to former Premier of NSW, Bob Carr. In 2008, Bruce was named by The Sydney Morning Herald as one of Sydney’s 100 most influential people. In 2011, Bruce was nominated by The Sydney Morning Herald in its ’50 most powerful people’ as one of Australia’s top 5 political brokers. Bruce has a strong presence in Australian politics where he has served as a key strategist in most federal, state and territory election campaigns since 1997. Bruce’s opinions on politics and government are widely sought by the media and he is regularly a guest commentator on ABC radio, Channel 7’s ‘Sunrise’ and Sky News. Bruce is also a regular contributor to newspapers including The Australian, The Daily Telegraph and The Sydney Morning Herald. Bruce is based in Sydney.
Some following that link through will see that Mr Hawker can be contacted by email and mobile there. Those wishing to make contact with him to express their views on millionaire lobbyist faceless men determining who should be their Prime Minister should feel free to do so. When we tweeted these public domain details, we had quite the response, as did poor Bruce apparently.
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Of course Vex is “discredited”> Thats why people like it. This is the New Idea of sleazy polictics. If we want some real journalism we turn to the Age. When we want some made up chinese wispers you turn to Vex.
I just saw Bruce Hawker on ABC TV News24 mentioning Vexnews. I was so impressed with Bruce I might consider joining the ALP if Rudd wins on Monday. I would however join a Melbourne not Melbourne Ports branch. I would like to help get rid of that political rodent who holds that electrate currently.
I wish to make it clear that VEXNEWS has not – to my knowledge – engaged Bruce Hawker to promote VEXNEWS.
Good work Andrew; nothing like free advertising. You are a labourite by politics but a capitalist at heart.
Mysterious and wise – Vexnews is not sleazy but party politics is sleazy.
I somehow suspect you wouldn’t be accepted into any Australian political party Adrian. Co,e to think about it, the ALP in Queensland needs a new candidate for Southern Downs – you and the previous candidate share a few views
The age for real journalism? If you want lefty,inner city, anti-working class, Stalinist ranting, read the “Labor Star in drag” as Jeff Kennett so accurately labelled the age many years ago. It is worse now.
I’d be trembling if I were you Andrew!
And to all the Labor pollies who would rather lose than vote Rudd – go and f*ck yourselves. We voted for you for your representation. Wake Ups!
As Lenore Taylor said this morning on Insiders those allegations of a conflict would have to be proved. You are brave daring Bruce to bring it on.
is he in your pay? it was the best ad for Vex News I have ever seen!
RT – actually I was in a minor party during a campaign before the party folded. It was the same year Senator Steve Fielding of Family First was elected in Victoria but I was not in his party thought but our parties preferences contributed to his win in a very small way as did the preferences of most other parties including the ALP. The ALP lost a strong candidate in that Senate campaign as a result.
The Catholic Church should hire Brucey to do their spruiking
Putting all the catty contributions here by Coalition boofheads,I find Bruce Hawker to be a good man.
Everything he said in advocating a return to Kevin Rudd I totally agree with.
The character attacks upon Kevin Rudd remind me of the atatcks upon Mark Latham. Such attacks are out of order.
Rudd and Latham are true blue working class in their hearts. The attacks of the middle classers upon these two good blokes is part of the managerial wanker class within Australia seeking to enforce a new establishment that working class families do not want.
Julia Gillard is by far the best choice for PM.
Kevin Rudd had been given more than enough opportunity to be a team player. Alexander Downer was dumped as leader of the Liberal Party and went on to secure the Foreign Ministry.
To restore Rudd to the Leadership position would be rewarding disloyalty and division.
We are a Parliamentary democracy not a presidential autocracy, Rudd’s attempt to appeal outside the caucus is another example why he should not be supported.
If Rudd was successful he would not become PM.
The a governor a general would need to seek a vote of confidence in the Parliament to determine if, in fact, he has the confidence of the lower house.
We could see the possibility of Abbott gaining office in the lead-up to an early election.
Those MP’s thinking of backing Rudd should think twice before they undermine the Gillard/ALP Government and reward disunity and division.
Gillard has provided good leadership and good governance. Her achievements under the minority government is impressive. Only Gillard could deliver such success
Rudd has continued to undermine her leadership and the success of the ALP Government, placing his own personal interests ahead of the over the Government and the nation.
A strong vote of support and confidence in Gillard is the best outcome.
Is there a code of ethics that Lobbyists have to abide by?
One would think that Bruce Hawker has over stepped the mark and should be de-registered.
I doubt that he would have any influence over the government and his clients are probably already looking at alternative choices.
In the sense that Julia is a team player yes. In the sense that Kevin won government for the ALP yes also.
The people’s YES at the 2007 Federal generation election was for Kevin and hence trumps even the better team playing Julia.
I am not saying that teamwork doesn’t count. It does. In fact, it is what good government and good political parties are about.
We have a sad dilemma on our hands because of the disparity.
In the short term I believe the ALP must do the right thing and give Kevin back the Prime Ministership, stop attacking hsi character and be humble to admit they broke with Party tradition by not allowing him to see out a full term.
Beyond that, did it ever occur to ALP MPs to act as a group and privaely walk in on the Prime Minister’s office when Kevin was PM and confron him and state that they wanted full collegiality? They didn’t and they could have and should have.
Now is the time to restore him and tell him plainly to be fully collegial and never have again a group of four and play the game from there to defeat the Coalition.
“I wish to make it clear that VEXNEWS has not – to my knowledge – engaged Bruce Hawker to promote VEXNEWS.”
Still, for that live to air plug you could throw a VEXNEWS T-shirt his way.
Or a fridge magnet?
Maybe a bumper sticker…
I have discovered a new species of grubby sub-humans I call Gillardius Supportrix.
Hawker is not paid by Kevin but could he be under the employment of His wife? someone else could be paying for his time, influence and expenses.
Julia Gillard also won office for Labor. It was Julia that negotiated the support and agreement of the Independents that kept labor in office. There is no guarantee that Rudd could have achieved a win for Labor in 2010,
The fact still remains that the Prime Minister is elected by the caucus with the support of a mority of the lower house. they are not directly located. Nor should hey be. The representative system of government is what makes our system Democratic. The parliament overseas the executive and hold them to account on a daily basis. Under a presidential system he president is only held accountable at the end of their term of office
The ALP won the 2007 election not Rudd. Howard loss support of the electorate. Rudd has no automatic divine right to hold on to office. He needed to maintain the support and confidence of the Parliament. Clearly he has lost that support and Julia Gillard was elected in his place. this is the same as Tony Abbott securing the leadership of the LNP.
Rudd has no right to claim or demand he be reinstated. He was removed from office legitimately. Again he did not win the 2010 ballot and as stated he did not secure the support of key independents.
Rudd has been a destabilizing influence, undermining the success of the Gillard Labor Government. He most certainly should not be rewarded for his lack of loyalty.
Coming soon on TV this week:
‘Indiana Rudd and the Vale of Serpents’. Indy Rudd finds that his Dad is none other than Philip Ruddock, but things get a lot worse when he expects support from fellow political archeologists and dinosaurs – and finds a multitude of snakes in the grass.
‘One and-a-half Idiots’ stars Juliar Dullard and Nicky Roxxon. The true story of two insipid legal clerks who somehow manage to get elected and cause chaos and mayhem in Canberra.
‘Make Kevin Retch’. A weird kitchen show where teams of ALP pollie cooks skewer, roast and barbeque various portions of Kevin Rudd’s body. Ventriloquist’s dummies Simon Creen and Tanya Plibersec’s simple offering ‘Cocktail Frank and two truffles’ was a instant hit. Nicky Roxxon and Jenny Maccka’s very visual dish ‘Dead Man Walking’ was also well received. It featured a plump well-battered raw steak into which twenty kitchen knives had been plunged.
“Indy… I AM YOUR FATHER…”
I also viewed next week’s MKR – ‘Make Kevin Retch’ – episode. Most dishes are nut-based. Dr Craig Emarson and Greg Combat’s was ‘Crushed Nuts on a Crushed Nuts omelette’. Solo entrant Peter Garrotte’s concoction was ‘Mixed Grill with lashings of midnight oil, and crushed nuts’.
@ Michael Webb, Kevin Rudd makes Kim Jong-il look like a well mannered suburbanite. The guy needs serious psychiatric treatment, he is a certified nutter. Nobody, and I mean NOBODY, wants to work for him as he is a narcissistic sociopath.
Martin Ferguson for PM
Can some one pleeeease explain, apologies to ms hanson, how it is mark hawker is constantly on abc’s 24 as spokesman for all things labor these days? He is not a pollie but is fated by the abc as some expert?? If he wants to be a pollie, stand for parliament.
Keep bagging this man Andrew, he clearly is a “lying liar who lies”.
Very much like his equally sneaky mate Mike Rann.
The comparison with Kim Jong-il is ridiculous.
Kevin Rudd and Mark Latham had their characters attacked and come to think of it so too did Pauline Hanson.
Middle class snobs attacking working class values,likes and mildly economic nationalist old Labor protectionism is the new battle that is being air-brushed off the agenda.
Looks like the pointy heads and nerds are winning out against working Australian labor people right now ( and swinging voters who share many of the true believers concerns).
(* a true believer can only be a Langite if in NSW or a Calwellite if in Victoria).