Beneath the euphoria of the government’s announcement this week that it had “secured a deal” to supply a COVID-19 vaccine to all Australians, there were signs of the political lobbying machine at work.
All drug companies have powerful government relations squads to help grease the wheels of power, and AstraZeneca is no different.
Kieran Schneemann is head of the government affairs team at the Australian arm of the British pharmaceutical company, which on Tuesday reached an informal agreement with the Morrison government to supply Australians with the University of Oxford COVID-19 vaccine – assuming it clears clinical trials.
As several commentators on Twitter were keen to point out, Schneemann is one of many health lobbyists to have a rich past in politics. From 1996 to 2006 he held a number of senior roles in the Howard government, including as chief of staff to former Liberal senator Nick Minchin and former Coalition MP Peter McGauran. He also held the role of secretary of the joint standing committee on electoral matters and was a director of parliamentary relations at the foreign and commonwealth office.
Pharmaceutical companies are hugely influential in Canberra, employing vast numbers of lobbyists and donating millions to both political parties. And like most industries they take advantage of a revolving door between industry and government.
The fact that AstraZeneca has a former government staffer in a senior lobbying role is hardly surprising or scandalous. But it does show just how well-connected the industry is to the government.
After leaving politics, Schneemann was appointed chief executive of the drug manufacturer peak body Medicines Australia, which works closely with members of parliament and government departments on the development of policy.
He then went on to head one of the country’s most powerful lobby groups, the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, until 2009, when he left over an apparent falling out with the group’s president and board.
AstraZeneca has secured deals with the US and Britain worth billions. But Prime Minister Scott Morrison was forced to clarify yesterday that the “deal” was in fact a “letter of intent” that would allow Australia to manufacture the drug locally. The government says if a deal goes ahead, it would be worth hundreds of millions of dollars and ensure Australians would be among the first in the world to receive the Oxford vaccine.
Certainly for drug industry lobbyists — and the government — the stakes could not be higher.
What vaccine(S) Australia gets will be as much a political decision as a medical one. Ambassadors will be busy in addition to the Corporate lobbyists. Johnson & Johnson look to be the prime US candidate to be in competition with Astra Zeneca.
“From 1996 to 2006 he held a number of senior roles in the Howard government”
There appears to be some confusion over these dates, due in part I suspect to Mr Schneemanns biography on the AstraZeneca website. His LinkedIn profile gives what I suspect are the correct dates which LinkedIn has listed as …
Chief of staff.
Howard Government. 1996 – 2003 7 years
Industry, Finance, Science
It then lists him as …
Chief executive
Medicines Australia
2003 – 2006 3 years
Im doubtful that he could have worked simultaneously as a government lobbyist and held a position as chief of staff between 2003 and 2006 due to legal, ethical and geographical reasons. Seeing as he was at MA from 2003, I think that puts the date of leaving government employment at 2003. This is supported by the following statement.
“After leaving politics, Schneemann was appointed chief executive of the drug manufacturer peak body Medicines Australia”.
Infact ever since he left politics and bureaucracy in 2003, he has spoken on behalf of, and represented, drug manufacturers and other stakeholders, in their dealings and communications with the government. Nobody had a problem with a former chief of staff going to work for MA and then the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, where one would suggest, because the Howard Government was still in office til 2007, he was dealing with former colleagues from his very recent political work, for 4 of the 6 years he worked in those positions. While the stakes are much higher here, morals and ethics don’t have price points. Why was nothing said til now? Why was a more clear cut case of conflict of interest not scrutinized to a much greater degree, while this storm in a teacup makes the news. As the article says ” a former government staffer in a senior lobbying role is hardly surprising or scandalous.”
As such this whole drama feels fabricated and contrived to score political points.
One final point I’d like to make. While I understand it wouldn’t have worked in the article, mention should be made of Schneemanns serving on the board of directors for Can-Teen for the past 6 years as well.
Ex-political staffer cum lobbyist caught doing nothing wrong as government does nothing substantial anyway.
This is a story, Georgia?
It is your story in fact.