Power Players

📋 What They Got in SA

• Festival Plaza approved by Liberal government without public tender
• Labor government approved 40-storey second tower despite community opposition
• Both major parties supported the development
• Adelaide Park Lands effectively privatized

🗣️ Community Opposition

Adelaide Park Lands Association and residents groups opposed the development. Both major parties ignored them.

📍 SA Project

Redeveloping the former Holden site at Elizabeth — one of the largest urban renewal projects in SA history. Multi-billion dollar mixed-use development.

🏛️ Policy Context

Major planning decisions, rezoning, and government support for the Elizabeth development affected by relationship with government.

📍 SA Operations

Adelaide-based operations supporting Australian Defence Force. Positioned to benefit from AUKUS submarine deal.

💰 The AUKUS Context

$368 billion committed over 30 years. Adelaide is a major defence hub — Osborne shipyard for submarines. Defence contractors donate to parties that control hundreds of billions in contracts.

Conflicts of Interest

• Advised Australian National Audit Office on IT procurement while also advising a bidding company
• $1.5 million Home Affairs engagement terminated after similar conflict discovered
• Ex-partner shared confidential military documents with company trying to win contracts

Political Alumni

Scott Morrison worked at KPMG before joining Tourism Australia and eventually becoming PM.

Kevin Rudd worked at KPMG 1996-98 before entering politics.

Both parties draw from the same consultant pool.

The Santos Conflict

EY was working for gas giant Santos while simultaneously advising the NSW state government on new gas developments.

Same firm, same topic, opposite clients. Who were they really working for?

Coalition Favourite

EY earned more than any other consulting firm under Tony Abbott's first two years in office, as consultant spending increased 19%.