Working With the Government

BTalk Australia
By Phil Dobbie

(Episode 397; 19 minutes 48) Do you ever talk to the government, at state or federal level? Are there policies impacting your industry that you think need to change?

“Businesses with exposure to NSW government decision-making need to start planning for a change in government,” Mr Collins said.

Mr Collins, also a former NSW health minister and treasurer and one-time ABC journalist, will launch the venture, Barton Deakin, in the new year and predicts it will grow to become a Hawker Britton for the conservatives.

Peter Collins, managing director of government relations agency Barton Deakin, says many companies who do get in front of the relevant minister waste time with unfocused presentations that don’t push a convincing argument fast enough.

On today’s BTalk Australia he also suggests businesses in NSW should spend time talking to the state opposition, who seem likely to win the next state election. Shadow ministers will have more time to listen now than when in power.

Peter Collins knows the political space well. He was the Liberal opposition leader in NSW for three years in the late 90s.

And one obvious last question for Peter – does he think Tony Abbott will ever be Prime Minister?

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