Bespoke Approach

From Justapedia, unleashing the power of collective wisdom
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Bespoke Approach is an Australian corporate advisory firm and registered political lobbyist. It has provided services to major international resources, energy, technology, transportation, food and beverage companies. The firm has offices in Adelaide, South Australia and Melbourne, Victoria.

Political lobbying

Alexander Downer
Alexander Downer
John Olsen
John Olsen

The firm was established in 2008 by England-born lobbyist Ian Smith in partnership with former Federal politicians Alexander Downer, Nick Bolkus, and Andrew Butcher, a former spokesperson for Rupert Murdoch. Smith had identified that Downer and Bolkus each possessed experience and qualities that he regarded "highly saleable and highly beneficial to companies." The firm was intended to be multipartisan from its inception.[1]

Bespoke Approach has lobbied on behalf of major corporations operating in Australia including Woodside Energy, Petrochina, Huawei Technologies, Xstrata and Fosters. The company is allied with the Albright Stonebridge Group, a major global strategy firm led by Bill Clinton’s former secretary of state, Madeleine Albright. The partnership provides Bespoke with access to high-level contacts in Washington, New York, Beijing, New Delhi and Sao Paulo.[2]

Successful lobbying efforts by Bespoke Approach have resulted in Xstrata benefiting from the Gillard government's reduced mining tax and receiving environmental approval for its Wandoan coal project, while PetroChina received government approval for a $3.5 billion joint takeover of Australia's biggest coal seam gas developer, Arrow Energy.[3] Other clients have included Devine Homes, Genworth Financial, Genesee & Wyoming Australia and CSR.[4]

Smith has been described as the driving force behind the company. He has said of effective political lobbying:

"Working with the public service – not even the most senior ranks of the public service – can secure a really successful outcome... effective lobbying should happen away from the glare of politics."[3]

Former South Australian premier John Olsen works as a Special Advisor to Bespoke Approach,[5] and former South Australian Treasurer, Kevin Foley has also worked with the firm following his retirement from parliament in 2011.[6] In 2013, Anthony Albanese mistakenly referred to Bespoke Approach as a "PR agency".[7]

Andrew Butcher joined the firm after Bespoke Approach merged with Butcher & Co in 2014. Butcher brought with him journalism and corporate affairs experience.[8] Ian Smith had previously worked with Butcher & Co, along with Sue Cato, in a trio representing "three of the biggest names in spin doctoring".[9]

As of November 2015, Bespoke Approach is a registered lobbying organisation federally, and in states of Western Australia,[10] South Australia,[11] Victoria,[12] New South Wales,[13] Queensland[14] and Tasmania.[15]

Firm founder Ian Smith has been critical of the "lack of depth" in political leadership in South Australia.[16] In 2017, Smith told a parliamentary inquiry that he believed Australia was on a path towards fully publicly funded political campaigns, as corporate donations to political parties were attracting increasing public criticism over their potential to undermine democratic decision-making processes.[17]

Bespoke Territory

Bespoke Approach is associated with Bespoke Territory, a firm represented by Hon Paul Henderson and Mike Burgess AM. Its members have previously worked on major projects in Australia's north including the Ichthys LNG project, Darwin Correctional Precinct, Darwin Marine Supply Base and various indigenous housing and infrastructure programs.[18] As of November 2015 their client list includes aquaculture company, Seafarms Group Ltd.[19][20]

Cancer research and treatment clients

Bespoke Approach’s commercial client list includes some of the preeminent conventional cancer research and treatment facilities in Australia, specifically: the Australian Association of Medical Research Institutes (AAMRI), the membership of which includes (inter alia) the Garvan Institute of Medical Research/Kinghorn Cancer Centre, the Children's, Olivia-Newton John, and Peter MacCallum cancer research institutes; and GenesisCare, which claims to be Australia’s largest provider of radiological oncotology services for the treatment of cancer.

Clients

As of 11 November 2015, Bespoke Approach's clients include:

Past clients include (but are not limited to):[22][23]

References

  1. ^ Warhurst, John (13 March 2013). "Shopping for influence". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  2. ^ Knott, Matthew (21 November 2011). "The Power Index: lobbyist leaders, Bespoke's Ian Smith at #10". Crikey. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  3. ^ a b Knott, Matthew (20 November 2011). "Lobbyists No. 10 - Ian Smith". The Power Index. Crikey. Archived from the original on 14 April 2015. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
  4. ^ Emmerson, Russell (1 April 2011). "Bespoke on track with new clients". The Advertiser. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
  5. ^ "About Us". Bespoke Approach. Archived from the original on 13 April 2015. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
  6. ^ "Hon Kevin Foley". Foley Advisory. Archived from the original on 1 February 2015. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
  7. ^ LeMay, Renai (19 July 2013). "Albanese incorrectly claims Bespoke is 'PR agency'". Delimiter. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  8. ^ "Butch gets Bespoked". Australian Financial Review. 9 December 2014. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  9. ^ "Off for a spin". InvestSMART. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  10. ^ a b c "Register of Lobbyists - View Lobbyist Profile". www.lobbyists.wa.gov.au. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i "South Australian Lobbyist Registration - Bespoke Approach" (PDF). Retrieved 11 November 2015.[permanent dead link]
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Commission, Victorian Public Sector. "Lobbyists Register - View Lobbyist Profile". www.lobbyistsregister.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
  13. ^ a b c d e f g "Who is on the Register?". www.lobbyists.elections.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
  14. ^ a b c d e Cabinet, c=AU; o=The State of Queensland; ou=Department of the Premier and Cabinet; ou=Department of the Premier and. "Untitled Page". Retrieved 11 November 2015.
  15. ^ a b "Register of Lobbyists : Bespoke Approach Pty Ltd as trustee for Bespoke Business". lobbyists.dpac.tas.gov.au. Archived from the original on 19 September 2015. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
  16. ^ Russel, Christopher (31 October 2013). "Bespoke Approach lobby agency founder Ian Smith says political parties lack front bench depth". The Advertiser. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  17. ^ "Lobbyist flags end to corporate donations". SBS News. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  18. ^ "Bespoke Territory". Bespoke Approach. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
  19. ^ "The Trustee for Bespoke Territory Unit Trust". Australian Government Register of Lobbyists. Australian Government - Department of Prime Minister & Cabinet. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  20. ^ "Register of Lobbyists - View Lobbyist Profile". www.lobbyists.wa.gov.au. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
  21. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Cabinet, corporateName=Department of the Prime Minister and. "About the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet". lobbyists.pmc.gov.au. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
  22. ^ "The Trustee for Bespoke Business Trust". Lobbyist Register. Australian Government - Department of Prime Minister & Cabinet. 7 April 2015. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
  23. ^ a b "South Australian Lobbyist Registration - The Trustee for Bespoke Business Trust" (PDF). Department of the Premier & Cabinet. Government of South Australia. 4 February 2015. Retrieved 28 April 2015.[permanent dead link]
  24. ^ "Deakin Speaking | Spying on Timor-Leste". blogs.deakin.edu.au. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
Retrieved from "https://justapedia.org/index.php?title=Bespoke_Approach&oldid=1119724317"