AUKUS Lobbyists Fund "Friend" Group for Politicians
The Parliamentary Friends of AUKUS group is having its inaugural bash, and who better to sponsor it than Precision Public Affairs – a lobbying firm repping defense contractors vying for lucrative Australian government contracts. Imagine that: those who stand to profit most from multi-billion dollar submarine deals are 'befriending' the politicians who decide them. Defence Minister Richard Marles
is even the 'special guest.' How utterly quaint. This isn't shadowy backroom deals; it's a neon-lit, publicly advertised influence operation. These 'friendship' groups are merely formalized avenues for industries to 'educate' (read: influence) lawmakers, disguised as innocent camaraderie. It raises the obvious question: how much 'friendship' does it take before it's just plain payroll?