Former Australian prime ministers Tony Abbott and Paul Keating are on the payroll of influential cardboard billionaire Anthony Pratt, as is ex-Victorian premier Daniel Andrews.
Mr Pratt, who was born in Melbourne to Jewish immigrant parents and but lives in the United States with his American wife, is worth an estimated $25 billion thanks to his packaging and recycling company Visy and US offshoot Pratt Industries.
The 66-year-old is a major donor to both of Australia’s major parties, as well as to Donald Trump, who he once praised as the “most pro-Israel president”, and has hired former state and federal leaders, including Mr Abbott, Mr Keating and Mr Andrews, as consultants, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.
Mr Andrews, who was recently hospitalised as a result of a mysterious medical episode he is yet to inform the public about, confirmed that he was being paid by Mr Pratt, and has visited his four-level Manhattan apartment.
Mr Abbott, who is paid $8,000, gave a vague answer when asked what consultancy services he provides in exchange.
“Look, I have been asked occasionally for insight into how some particular issue might be best approached,” he said.
“I’ve been asked occasionally if I might attend an event where my presence could be useful. That kind of thing.”
Mr Keating, who earns $25,000 a month from Mr Pratt, told the publication: “My advice is limited to big-picture issues of the international kind.”
The former Labor prime minister also said he was not motivated by the money, and that he did no other consulting work.
“It’s pin money, in my terms. I’m just doing Anthony a favour, fundamentally,” he said.
Mr Pratt said he made huge profits during Melbourne’s draconian, human rights-violating Covid lockdowns, which were masterminded by Mr Andrews, due to the industry doubling in size due to increased demand for boxes for home delivery.
In 2021 he, his family and their billionaire guests were caught allegedly breaching Mr Andrews’ lockdown laws by hosting a dinner for Shabbat, the Jewish day of rest, at his Melbourne mansion, but Victoria Police took no action, saying no offences were detected.
More than 50,000 Victorians were fined for breaches of Mr Andrews’ public health orders during the pandemic for offences such as not wearing masks and attending public or private gatherings.
Two years later Mr Pratt hosted a Labor Party fundraising event at the same Raheem mansion, attended by Mr Andrews, while Visy was bidding for a $500 million contract with the state government to run Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme, which it ultimately won.
A spokesperson for Mr Andrews said at the time that the procurement process for the scheme was “conducted under strict probity guidelines and assessed against predetermined criteria without external influence”.
Left, Daniel Andrews with Anthony Pratt at a Visy recycling centre in 2023 (Visy). Right, Mr Pratt with Kylie Minogue (supplied).
