Jeremy Buckingham at the Bentley Blockade.

Jeremy Buckingham, NSW Greens MP and mining spokesperson.

There is a revolving door between mining and government.

The following is a list of some of the people who work or worked as lobbyists for the mining industry who used to be or became politicians, including ministers, advisors for Liberal, Labor and National Party politicians or senior government bureaucrats. It is by no means complete but gives a sense of the extent of the revolving door between miners and the government. If you know of more, please let me know.

Ministers who became involved in mining after politics

Mark Vaile

former deputy prime minister and leader of Nationals under the Howard Government

on the board of Aston Resources – now merged with Whitehaven Coal.

John Anderson

former deputy prime minister and leader of the Nationals under the Howard Government

served as Chair of coal seam gas company Eastern Star Gas (acquired by Santos)

Martin Ferguson

Minister for Energy & Resources under Rudd/Gilllard

now chair of APPEA advisory board

Craig Emerson

Minister for Trade and Competitiveness under Rudd/Gillard

Now an economic consultant.whose clients include AGL and Santos

Greg Combet

Minister for Energy and Climate Change under Rudd/Gillard

Now an economic consultant.whose clients include AGL and Santos

NSW Mineral Council staff

Stephen Galilee – CEO

Chief of staff of the then Treasurer, now NSW Premier, Mike Baird

Scott Kennan – Director Communications

Media Advisor to Transport Minister Michael Costa 2003 – 2004

Emma Browning – Director Government Relations

Media & Policy Advisor “NSW Shadow Minister” -1997-1999

Brad Emery – Director Media and Public Affairs

Press Secretary Federal Assistant Treasurer, Peter Dutton MP 2004-2007

Advisor “Australian Government” – 2000-2004

Media Advisor Kerry Bartlett MP – 1998 – 1999

Sue-Ern Tan – Deputy CEO NSW Minerals Council 2008-2012

Senior Policy Adviser- Ian McDonald, Energy and Mining Office of the NSW Minister for Primary Industries, Minister for Mineral Resources, Minister for Energy, 2006 – 2008

Ksenya Belooussova – Media Advisor at Department of Premier and Cabinet

Digital Communications Manager – NSW Minerals Council (2012 -2014)

Lindsay Hermes – Advisor – Ian Macfarlane, Minister for Industry at Department of Industry

Media and Communications Manager NSW Minerals Council 2010-2013

Media Advisor – 2013 Federal Election Liberal Party

Advisor to Deputy Leader of the Opposition ACT Government 2006 -2008

Minerals Council of Australia staff

Brendan Pearson – CEO

Assistant Secretary Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, 2002-2004

John Kunkel – Deputy CEO

Senior Adviser, Cabinet Policy Unit Office of John Howard 2004-2007

Advisor to Mark Vaile, 1999-2001

Trade Advisor to Tim Fischer, 1998-1999

James Sorahan – Director – Taxation

Policy Advisor, Martin Fergusen 2010-2013

Policy Advisor, Chris Bowen 2007-2010

Policy Analyst, Australian Treasury 2005-2007

Chris Natt – Training and Education Coordinator

Worked for NT Minister for Primary Industries, Minister for Fisheries, Minister for Mines and Energy 2005-2009

Chris McCombe – Assistant Director-Environmental Policy

Manager, Major Projects (Abandoned Mines Land Program) Queensland Mines and Energy 2008-2010

Third-party mining lobbyists

Liam Bathgate – Director at Australian Public Affairs

Lobbied for Shenua Watermark, Aston Resources (Maules Creek Coal Project) and Tenix Group

Chief of Staff to Barry O’Farrell 2007-2008

General Secretary of NSW National Party 1992 – 1997

Principal Private Secretary to Ian Sinclair MP (Leader of National Party) 1984 – 1987

Press Secretary to Doug Anthony MP (Deputy PM and Leader of Nationals) 1979 – 1984

Brian Tyson – Managing Partner at Newgate Communications

Lobbied for Coalpac Pty Ltd

Press Secretary Former NSW Premier Nick Greiner and Planning and Energy Minister Robert Webster 1987 – 1995

Larry Anthony – Founding Director at SAS Group

Lobbied for Shenua

Senior Vice President Federal Nationals 2006 – 2012

Mathew Watson – Managing Director at Repute Communications

Lobbied for Bickham Coal and Port Waratah Coal Services

Senior Communications Manager (Cabinet / Ministerial) in NSW Government 2002 – 2004

Michael van Maanen – Partner Newgate Communications 2013 – Present

Lobbied for Coalpac Pty Ltd

Adviser to the Federal Minister for Workforce Participation 2006 –2007

Adviser to the Federal Minister for Immigration, Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs 2004 – 2006

Policy Adviser in Departments of Prime Minister and Cabinet, Foreign Affairs and Trade, Defence) 2000 – 2004

Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association (APPEA) staff

Martin Ferguson- Chair of APPEA advisory board

Minister for Energy & Resources under Rudd/Gilllard

Chris Ward – Media Manager, Eastern Australia

Principal Media Adviser to Queensland Minister for Transport 2010 – 2011

Press Secretary to Federal Minister for Consumer Affairs and Small Business 2008–10

Senior Media Adviser to the Queensland Treasurer 2007-08

Senior Media Adviser to NSW Attorney and Minister for the Environment 2003–07

Ryan Bondar – Policy and Government Relations

Senior Policy Advisor NSW Leader of Opposition Barry O’Farrell 2008-2010

Research officer Joe Hockey 2003-2004

Michael Bradley – Director External Affairs

Ministerial advisor to Martin Ferguson Federal Resources and Energy Minister 2008-2010

Alexandra Gibson – Policy Director, NSW/VIC

Advisor to Christopher Pyne 2006-2007

Damien Hills – National Associate Director, Environment & Safety

Senior Policy Adviser Office of the Minister for Environment and Heritage (WA) March 2001 – February 2002

Kieran Murphy – Manager Media & Communications – Western Region

Communications Director Office of the Premier 2005 – 2008 (WA)

Stedman Ellis – COO,Western

Deputy DG, WA Department of Mines and Petroleum 2007-2010

Adam Welch – Senior Policy Adviser, Western

Senior Policy Officer/Policy Officer at Office of Energy – Government of Western Australia

Executive Office at Office of Energy – Government of Western Australia

Paul Fennelly – Chief Operating Officer, Eastern Australia

Director-General (CEO) of Department of State Development, Trade & Innovation-General at Queensland Government