Lobbying firm that made Rudd donation worked for FFA

By Duncan Mackay

January 16 – The row between the football codes in Australia have taken another twist after it emerged that Hawker Britton, a lobbying group who gave donations to Kevin Rudd’s election campaign, were hired to work for the country’s bid to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup.

The group were used to campaign on behalf of Football Federation Australia (FFA) to ensure that the State Governments backed the bid, it has been revealed in a new Government list which forced lobbyists to reveal their current client list.

FFA chief executive Ben Buckley said: “They did some work in establishing our campaign strategy, providing general advice on Government relations in respect of the bid.”

The World Cup bid has sparked controversy in Australia because officials from Australian Rules and rugby league fear that they will have to abandon their seasons if it is successful.

Hawker Britton donated $177,000 (£100,000) to the election campaign of Kevin Rudd, who was elected Australia’s new Prime Minister in 2007.

The Rudd Government has since committed $50 million (£28 million) to Australia’s World Cup bid.

Hawker Britton senior principal Bruce Hawker said the lobby group had stopped working for the FFA nine months ago.

He said: ”We worked in various jurisdictions for about three months or so.”

Contact the writer of this story at zib.l1734801754labto1734801754ofdlr1734801754owedi1734801754sni@y1734801754akcam1734801754.nacn1734801754ud1734801754.

Related stories
January 2010:
Exclusive – Row will not derail Australian World Cup bid promises Sports Minister
December 2009: Taskforce formed to sort out Australian World Cup row
December 2009: Australian rival codes are scared of World Cup claims England bid ambassador
December 2009: Hollywood star tells Australia’s World Cup critics not to act like “twits”
December 2009: Australia World Cup bid accused of chasing a dream at expense of everything else