Ex- the AFR: Steve Ciobo advising Bain's Virgin bid.....
Link here:
https://www.afr.com/rear-window/stev...0200531-p54y1h
Extract here:
" -Rear Window
Steve Ciobo advising Bain's Virgin bid
Joe Aston Columnist
May 31, 2020 – 11.58pm
Whoever emerges as Virgin Australia's new owner, and in whatever form the airline takes, the voluntary administration process will have been a consultants' picnic. Oodles of professional services mercenaries attached to the various bids – Bain, for instance, has 22 external advisers engaged "around the clock" on theirs – will no doubt be extra grateful for the fee bonanza at such a dismal point in the economic cycle.
One former Somebody lending his expertise and entrée to Bain's bid is former federal minister Steven Ciobo, no doubt offering unparalleled insight into the direction of the wind, at any given moment, in Scott Morrison's Canberra.
A curious choice. Does the Prime Minister's door even remain ajar to his former defence industry minister?
You'll recall defence minister Christopher Pyne was allowed to serve out his final days in Parliament on the frontbench after announcing he would not contest the 2019 election. So, too, was human services minister Michael Keenan, despite his character assessment of his new leader as an "absolute arsehole". Very pointedly, however, Ciobo was not extended the same courtesy, sent to the backbench just 2½ months from the May poll.
Having backed Peter Dutton in the Liberal leadership spill (and even run as deputy, garnering more votes, at least, than poor, deluded Greg Hunt), Ciobo had already been demoted from the trade and tourism portfolio when Morrison appointed his first cabinet in August 2018, a portfolio he'd really come to know and love. Ciobo spent almost as many nights in the key Virgin Australia destination of Los Angeles than George Christensen did in Angeles City – and Ciobo was even ordered by the (previous) Prime Minister's Office to cut it out. Who knew West Hollywood was such a nerve centre for bilateral trade negotiations with Indonesia or Peru?
Hey, at least Ciobo hasn't been reduced to lobbying for L'Oréal.
Over at rival Virgin bidder Brookfield, Canberra's vagaries are being interpreted for the Canadians by GRA Cosway. No government relations advice is required at BGH Capital, where principal Ben Gray considers himself an ex-officio member of federal cabinet. Why pay for a pale imitation when you've got the real thing engraved on the door?
Joe Aston has helmed The Australian Financial Review's Rear Window column since 2012. He is based in Los Angeles. Connect with Joe on Facebook and Twitter. Email Joe at [email protected] "
Rgds
S28- BE