8/13/2019 Where does Janet Albrechtsens husband fit 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 influence 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 AustraliansJanet 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 office 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 office. 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 office. But she went ahead and gave

media lift-off to the speculation. Cabinet ministers and Liberal figures 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 officer. 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/Critical-

voice-gets-keys-to-citadel/2005/02/25/1109180107167.html)the blonde summer clerk within four years of

her arrival from Adelaide. His Commonwealth Bank profile (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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for a banking consumer.

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