Thursday began with an insight into how business is sometimes done in the networked corridors of power. The Nine newspapers had leaked emails purporting to show that Liberal Stuart Robert, when he was on the government backbench, had provided private advice to a lobbying firm pursuing lucrative government contracts and access to decision-makers.
The lobbying firm in question was part owned by an associate of Robert, and oddly enough, had not made its presence felt on the formal lobbyists register. A spokesperson for Robert swiftly rejected “all assertions made in the article”. It is not suggested Robert was an employee of the firm or paid for his advice.
