Where does Janet Albrechtsens husband t in?

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Thursday, 13 September 2007

Where does Janet Albrechtsens husband fit in?

Stephen Mayne writes: The News Ltd press have been whipping the butt of Fairfax on the scoops and inuence stakes over the past few days in Federal politics. Whilst Andrew Bolt joined Glenn Milne in the Costello camp three months ago, it was the switch of The Australians Janet Albrechtsen last Friday which will go down in history as one of the most impactful columns (http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story /0,25197,22375260-7583,00.html) of all time. Most political leaders leave ofce bitter with the media and you can expect John Howard will be no different after Albrechtsen literally spoiled his APEC. Dennis Shanahans page one read (http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22404056-11949,00.html?source=cmailer) yesterday provided the following excellent insight:
Albrechtsen is an unashamed and long-term Howard supporter who decided to write a special column for Fridays newspaper urging Howard to go. On Wednesday and Thursday the columnist - a strong supporter of Turnbull, and whose husband, John OSullivan, campaigns for the Environment Minister in his Sydney electorate of Wentworth - told Turnbull, as well as Tony Abbott, Nick Minchin and Downer, of her plans. She also told the Prime Ministers ofce. She said yesterday she talked to the ministers as a courtesy. Turnbull says he urged her not to write it, as did Abbott and Howards ofce. But she went ahead and gave media lift-off to the speculation. Cabinet ministers and Liberal gures immediately blamed Turnbull for Albrechtsens emotional intervention, which dogged Howard at his meetings with Bush, Russias Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Hu Jintao.

Janet Albrechtsen is not short of a quid. The latest Commonwealth Bank annual report (http://imagesignal.comsec.com.au/asxdata/20070829/pdf/00753541.pdf) (pages 39-45) reveals John OSullivan collected $2.4 million in 2006-07 for his work as chief legal ofcer. Whilst Janets husband does owe the bank $1.5 million, his 114,000 shares are worth a tidy $6.27 million. OSullivan was the senior Freehills partner who married (http://www.theage.com.au/news/People/Criticalvoice-gets-keys-to-citadel/2005/02/25/1109180107167.html) the blonde summer clerk within four years of her arrival from Adelaide. His Commonwealth Bank prole (http://about.commbank.com.au/group_display /0,1922,CH2736,00.html) boasts of his work on all the big Federal privatisations in the following terms:
Prior to joining the Bank, John had been a partner of Freehills since 1983. He acted for the Bank in its acquisition of State Bank of Victoria and the Colonial Group, as well as on the three stages of the Banks privatisation. He also led the legal team for the Commonwealth of Australia on Telstra 1, Telstra 2 and the sale of Sydney Airport.

Peter Costello recently took the long handle to the Commonwealth Bank on behalf of aggrieved customer and former Liberal candidate Lana McLean. John OSullivan was forced to publicly rebut the Treasurer, but now his wife has suddenly attempted to put him into The Lodge. Interesting! Was the Treasurer enjoying causing trouble for a key Turnbull backer. After all, hes never before publicly stood up

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19/08/10 10:31 AM