Two years ago, still wearing a honeymoon glow, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese followed his address to the Business Council of Australia’s annual dinner by offering a few lucky CEOs a ride on his private plane Toto One to Canberra for the government’s jobs and skills summit.
Times have changed now – a politically battered Albo is stumbling toward an election, big business is a lot crankier with federal Labor, and the BCA is facing questions about whether its influence has become too anaemic.
Fresh from getting roasted by the Minerals Council last week, the PM copped it again from BCA chief Bran Black, whose speech about Australia “losing its way” because of workplace relations laws was dropped to the media ahead of time. A fairly lukewarm address, truth be told, but somehow hot enough to trigger the fire alarm, which went off as Black wound up.
The two smiled and made nice for the cameras once the PM made his red carpet arrival. But Albanese had little time for small talk on arrival, hurriedly whisked through the throng of well-wishers into the Hyatt Regency’s Maritime Ballroom.
Getting a golden ticket to the prime minister’s table were billionaire Atlassian co-founder Mike Cannon-Brookes, Wesfarmers Chief Executive Rob Scott, Commonwealth Bank’s Matt Comyn and Coles boss Leah Weckert. Telstra chief executive Vicki Brady, Rio Tinto’s Kellie Parker and BCA president Geoff Culbert rounded off the top table. Cannon-Brookes’ Atlassian co-founder Scott Farquhar took a techy approach to the business-casual approach, rocking jeans and dress sneakers.
The PM was ably supported by a few key lieutenants, including Treasurer Jim Chalmers, Housing Minister Clare O’Neil (doubtless relieved to have a nice, chill portfolio after her torrid time in home affairs), Climate and Energy Minister Chris Bowen, Communications Minister Michelle Rowland, Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek, Albo’s chief of staff Tim Gartrell and blow-in Parramatta MP-turned-overnight India expert Andrew Charlton.
From the other side, CBD spotted the ever-chipper former Liberal defence minister turned lobbyist Christopher Pyne, federal Liberal MP Paul Fletcher and former Liberal federal director Brian Loughnane (aka Mr Peta Credlin), currently conducting a review into the party’s embattled NSW division.
With a guest list like that, it’s almost more intriguing taking stock of who wasn’t in the room. A large absence was that of Australia’s richest person, Gina Rinehart, whose Hancock Prospecting is among the BCA’s newest members. Perhaps she found the crowd a little too woke.