CBD
It's been under fire in Canberra but now Woolworths plans a good, old-fashioned roasting.
The supermarket and pokie-machine operator, which is being probed by the chief consumer regulator, Rod Sims, over allegations it gouges suppliers, is chucking a courtyard barbie at Parliament House next month.
The make-nice session promises the chance to meet "some of Australia's fresh food farmers, producers and retailers". The invite is silent on whether CEO Grant O'Brien, right, will don the "Kiss the chef" apron and turn a sausage or two.
If the invite that's doing the rounds of Parliament House is any guide, they'll also be welcome to gorge themselves on platter loads of meat. Among the burnt offerings pictured are sausages, steaks, chops and kebabs. Just let's not overdo the potato salad, OK?
Lockyer's journey
News a fortnight ago that an all-time undisputed rugby league great, former Brisbane Broncos captain Darren Lockyer, would embark on a "journey of discovery" into coal seam gas and shoot promotional videos for Origin Energy prompted a volley of emails.
One correspondent attached a photo of a billboard, apparently outside Rockhampton Airport. The billboard, for a training and labour hire company called Onekey Resources, showed Lockyer in front of a bleak mining landscape with the slogan: "Mining is booming, your career should be too."
Turns out Lockyer has been for some time a paid ambassador for the Brisbane-based Onekey, which consults to clients in the resources and infrastructure industries, as well as clients in the gas industry. Lockyer has shares in Onekey, a spokeswoman confirmed.
Which is fine, although it somewhat undermines Origin's claim that Lockyer will be someone "objective" and be given open access to experts to form his own views on coal seam gas. Is it really possible to be objective if you're a shareholder in a company that consults to the industry?
Needling the boss
Have players at AFL club Essendon really have been shoving as much strange junk into themselves as recent headlines suggest? The soon-to-retire CSL chief, Brian McNamee, is unconvinced.
"I think it's a bit too early yet to be completely convinced that they're guilty of all the things they've been accused of in the media," he said last week. "I think we should just be calm and wait for the actual outcome of the analysis."
It's true McNamee is a mad Bomber, as is the man who asked the question, David Langsam of Biotech Daily. But he is also a qualified doctor who runs a company specialising in drugs and blood products. Who better to give an opinion?
Pressing times
Amid the recent development that the Lachlan Murdoch-chaired Ten Network will use the global resources of News Ltd's Gold Coast Bulletin and NT News to produce its political Sunday morning show Meet the Press, CBD hears that, over at Channel Nine, the powers of production are considering dusting off the Business Sunday logos for a resurrection of the once mighty flagship program. However, after spending many days in a newsroom with a TV monitor fixed on either Bloomberg or CNBC, CBD can confirm that business news makes far, far better reading than watching.
Macquarie stock
Re our piece "The jaws of life" (CBD, February 15), Macquarie advises us it has never covered its own stock.
Frequently Asked Questions about this Article…
Woolworths is being probed by the chief consumer regulator, Rod Sims, over allegations it gouges suppliers. For investors, regulatory probes can lead to reputational damage, possible fines or changes in supplier relationships, so it’s a development worth tracking through company announcements and regulator updates.
Woolworths has invited politicians to a Parliament House courtyard barbecue billed as a chance to meet Australia’s fresh food farmers, producers and retailers. The event appears to be a public relations effort while the company faces scrutiny — such PR activity can influence public perception, which investors may want to watch alongside any regulatory news.
Origin Energy is running a campaign that involves former rugby great Darren Lockyer embarking on a ‘journey of discovery’ into coal seam gas and filming promotional videos. Investors in Origin might consider the campaign’s potential to shape public opinion about coal seam gas and to monitor any commentary around transparency and spokesman objectivity.
The article notes Lockyer is a paid ambassador for Brisbane-based Onekey Resources and that he holds shares in the company, which consults to the resources and gas industries. That shareholding and advisory role raises questions about how objective he can be when publicly promoting coal seam gas on behalf of Origin.
Brian McNamee, the soon-to-retire CSL chief, said it’s too early to be convinced that Essendon players are guilty of all the media accusations and urged waiting for the outcome of analysis. Investors in companies mentioned in high-profile controversies often watch for official results and any potential business or reputational impacts.
The Lachlan Murdoch‑chaired Ten Network will use News Ltd’s Gold Coast Bulletin and NT News resources to produce the political show Meet the Press. CBD also reports Channel Nine is considering reviving the Business Sunday brand. These moves point to content collaboration and programming shifts that media investors may track for potential audience and revenue implications.
In response to a previous piece, Macquarie advised it has never covered its own stock. That statement touches on the broader investor concern about potential conflicts of interest in analyst coverage and company disclosures.
Keep an eye on official company announcements and regulator statements cited in the article, follow credible media reporting on the Woolworths probe and Origin/Lockyer campaign, and note any disclosures about conflicts of interest (for example, Lockyer’s Onekey shareholding or Macquarie’s coverage statement). Monitoring these factual updates helps you assess potential reputational, regulatory or media risks to investments.
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