Nick Bolkus

Template:Short description Template:EngvarB Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox officeholder Nick Bolkus (born 17 July 1950)<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref> is a former Australian Labor Party politician. He was a member of the Senate from July 1981 to June 2005, representing the state of South Australia.

Early career

Bolkus was born in Adelaide and educated at Adelaide High School and the University of Adelaide. He was a lawyer in 1974 and 1975 before moving into political advising as a research officer for a number of Australian Labor Party (ALP) members including Clyde Cameron. He unsuccessfully ran for the district of Torrens at the 1975 state election and for the Senate at the 1977 federal election. He entered politics as a Senator for South Australia following the 1980 Australian federal election.<ref>Parliamentary Handbook – Supplement to biographical information in 29th edition on former Senators and Members of the 40th Parliament</ref>

Parliamentary career

Bolkus was appointed to the outer Ministry as Minister for Consumer Affairs and Minister Assisting the Treasurer for Prices (1988–90).<ref name=":0" /> Bolkus was appointed as Minister for Administrative Services (1990–93) (a Ministry which was later relegated out of Cabinet), and then Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Multicultural Affairs (1993–96).<ref name=":0" />

After the end of the Keating Government (due to its election defeat in 1996), Bolkus was Shadow Attorney-General and Minister for Justice from March 1996 to November 2001.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Assisting for Prices 1988–90

Bolkus was first elected to the Federal Ministry in February 1988 as Minister for Consumer Affairs and Minister Assisting the Treasurer for Prices.<ref name="parlinfo.aph.gov.au">Template:Cite web</ref> In this portfolio he introduced world leading legislation to protect the privacy of individuals in their relationships with credit data agencies.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He also introduced the Banking Ombudsman, streamlining National Uniform Food Laws, introducing a series of Codes of Conduct protecting consumers, and initiating enquiries into the pricing practices of the computer software,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> music and book industries.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Minister for Administrative Services 1990–93

Bolkus was appointed to Cabinet in 1990 as Minister for Administrative Services, a portfolio which he held until the 1993 election.<ref name="parlinfo.aph.gov.au"/> In this portfolio he introduced comprehensive legislation for the disclosure of political donations.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> He transitioned the department to a commercialized, corporatized and competitive body.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Bolkus used the extensive reach of a department n such areas as Commonwealth property ownership, construction, purchasing and the Australian Electoral Commission, to pursue the government's environmental and industry policy agenda, particularly in the Information Technology area.

Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs 1993–96

In 1993, Bolkus was appointed Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Multicultural Affairs.<ref name="parlinfo.aph.gov.au"/> He held these portfolios until the 1996 election. In these positions, Bolkus tried making both the Department's and Government's immigration, refugee and multicultural policies more relevant to Australia's social, economic and humanitarian needs.

Bolkus tried restructured both the department and policy, including:

• rewriting Australia's Migration laws<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• recognition of the importance of temporary business entry through initiatives such as the APEC card "invisible visa" entry for Tourism, and the Business "life of passport" visa<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• fundamental restructuring of the business migration program<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• the first review of the Australian Citizenship Act since its 1948 introduction<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
• the establishment of the Refugee Review Tribunal<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• the revision of Australia's Oath and Allegiance by removing reference to the Queen
• the introduction of a major Citizenship Promotion program
• increase in the annual migration and refugee programs

Parliamentary committee experience

Bolkus has served on and Chaired a number of Parliamentary Committees in the areas of Legal and Constitutional Affairs, Foreign Affairs, Industrial Relations, Corporation Legislation, Indigenous Affairs, and Human Rights<ref name="parlinfo.aph.gov.au"/> He was Chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Constitutional and Legal Affairs.<ref name="parlinfo.aph.gov.au"/> He represented the Australian Parliament at the 1983 and 1984 Constitutional Conventions and at the 41st General Assembly of the United Nations in 1986.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Other issues

In 2003, Bolkus was accused and personally attacked by Workplace Relations Minister Tony Abbott for failing to declare donations made by Dante Tan. Tan was not found guilty of any criminal offence in either the Philippines or Australia.<ref>AM: Failure to declare donation an honest mistake: Nick Bolkus, ABC Local Radio, 25 June 2003.</ref> Abbott accused Bolkus of having breached the legal requirements of accepting a political donation.<ref>Riley, Mark: Now Labor under fire over funds given on the quiet, The Sydney Morning Herald, 24 June 2003.</ref> Abbott also accused Bolkus of money laundering,<ref>AFP may investigate Senator Bolkus, The Sydney Morning Herald, 24 June 2003.</ref> however it became clear that the matter was in fact not a breach of any regulations regarding political donations.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Bolkus successfully sued Nationwide News in the District Court of South Australia for defamation in Bolkus v Nationwide News.<ref>Template:Cite AustLII.</ref>

Post-Parliamentary Career

Lobbying

Until 2015, Bolkus was a partner at Bespoke Approach, a corporate advisory firm.<ref name="What we do - Bespoke Approach">Template:Cite web</ref> Bespoke Approach is now owned by corporate and political advisor Ian Smith and former Senior Vice-president at News Corporation Andrew Butcher.<ref name="What we do - Bespoke Approach"/>

Bolkus also offers political lobbying services under the names Kazaru and Nick Bolkus. Clients represented to the SA Parliament and SA government since 2016 include: SA Power Networks, Daycorp, D and R DeRuvo and sons, Fyfe, SSE Australia, Bedford Group, Walker Corporation, Lincoln Lakes Development Company, Kelaray Pty Ltd, Kangaroo Island Plantation Timbers Ltd, The Stehr Group, Tri-star Petroleum, Celsus/SA Health Partnership, Karadeniz Holdings, The Belgrave Group, RH & DJ Bichard Superfund.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Directorships and advisory positions

Nick Bolkus is the Chairman of Directors of Nuturf Australia Pty Ltd,<ref>Nuturf Retrieved 24 June 2024</ref> and Envirogreen Pty Ltd.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and Director of Wondertreat Aust Pty Ltd.and Ecofertiliser Pty Ltd.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

He is Adviser to the Australian Hokkien Association.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

He is also currently a Director of the industry based Australian Fisheries Academy.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>