Party lobbying firms regroup

Samantha Maiden
The Australian
Tuesday 24 August, 2010

LABOR'S public relations firm, Hawker Britton, yesterday announced that its sister firm is joining Liberal strategist Grahame Morris.

The fallout from Australia's extraordinary election result is being felt in the lobbying world, with a shake-up at the top of the government relations tree in Canberra.

After trading blows on Sky News during the campaign, Hawker Britton chief executive Bruce Hawker and Mr Morris will soon be working under the umbrella of the STW group, formed out of the old Singleton advertising empire.

"Clearly, under a new government there will be a new lobbying regime in Canberra. That always happens," Mr Morris said yesterday.

"I am never going to join Hawker Britton, which is a Labor lobbying firm. Instead, we have set up a sister firm called Barton Deakin, which can look after Hawker Britton clients if, capital IF, there's a change of government."

Barton Deakin, a new public relations and government advice firm headed by former NSW Liberal leader Peter Collins, has agreed to join forces with Mr Morris and establish an office in Canberra.

In a private briefing note to clients yesterday, Hawker Britton confirmed the move and said the company remains a Labor-aligned lobby group. If clients also want some of the Liberal Party action, it is urging them to consider working with Barton Deakin and Mr Morris.

The hung parliament is expected to be a bonanza for lobby groups.

Hawker Britton describes itself as Australia's leading government relations and government lobbying firm.

"We offer an unrivalled level of expertise in federal government lobbying and territory and state government lobbying, as well as advising companies on issues, policies, and commercial matters related to Australian state, territory and federal government," its website states.

Before setting up Hawker Britton, Mr Hawker was a political adviser to ministers and shadow ministers in NSW.