Simply this morning, former Liberal Occasion media adviser John Macgowan tweeted about Bruce Lehrmann’s defamation case towards Community 10 (a trial which has been to reputations what The Soiled Dozen was to after-work events).
“Considering my subsequent hustle is working model rehabilitation for all the blokes burned by the Lehrmann yarn by taking them to Gaza to feed ravenous youngsters,” wrote Macgowan. “A safer various to being wherever close to that story”.
Secure to say, in most different contexts, John Macgowan could be one of many extra vibrant characters on show. Within the context of the continued earthquake that’s this case, he has very a lot been crowded out.
ICAC
Macgowan made his earliest look within the media in 2014 by way of the New South Wales Unbiased Fee Towards Corruption (ICAC) testimony of then member for Swansea Garry Edwards (in what the AFR famous “gave the impression to be a fastidiously staged twist” from ICAC’s counsel aiding Geoffrey “Hollywood” Watson). Macgowan, on the time working for MP Mike Gallacher, was not on the witness listing when referred to as, and testified that Edwards had requested him whether or not he ought to inform the corruption watchdog about an obvious money donation from Newcastle property developer Jeff McCloy in 2011.
“I wasn’t a lot involved about my private political place as I used to be involved about whether or not I’d go to jail for doubtlessly mendacity to ICAC,” Macgowan stated.
Filth unit
The “filth unit” — political staffers devoted to discovering embarrassing/compromising/career-ending materials on political opponents — is one in every of many widespread political practices that require a little bit of euphemism once in a while. For instance, in February 2019, The Each day Telegraph famous Macgowan was shifting on from his function with then NSW planning minister Anthony Roberts to move the social gathering’s “accountability unit”, which is a pleasant selection of phrases. (The Libs informed the Tele that Macgowan’s job title was in reality “media adviser”, and his job was “check[ing] the veracity of any opposition claims”.)
Macgowan was becoming a member of the business throughout a golden period — throughout the earlier yr’s Victorian state election, the candidate listing suffered a cane toad-like culling based mostly on materials that was usually (explicitly or very clearly) the work of filth items. And there was one other golden yr forward in 2019, with the NSW state elections and federal elections to come back.
The most important early scalp: then NSW Labor chief Michael Daley. Macgowan would later inform the 9 papers of how the Liberal filth unit sat on footage of Daley telling an occasion that younger Australians have been lacking out on jobs to individuals “from Asia with PhDs”.
It was nothing private, Macgowan insisted: “I really actually like Michael Daley.”
Macgowan’s work hardly ever paid off with such a slam dunk, he stated, estimating he’d learn the equal of Ulysses in Fb posts: “It’s a job that rewards chilly endurance.”
He’d additionally play a task within the federal election. “Bear in mind, proper firstly of the marketing campaign, that donation scandal was sparking off?” Macgowan was quoted as saying in Samantha Maiden’s dissection of the 2019 marketing campaign, Occasion Animals. “That evening, we had video on TV of Huang Xiangmo’s marriage ceremony with Shorten sitting there.” He went on to say they obtained the footage of Shorten from one of many many Liberals who had additionally attended: “There was an entire desk of Liberals there,” he laughed.
Lehrmann and freelancing
Macgowan was among the many individuals Lehrmann texted on the day Brittany Higgins’ allegations that she had been raped in Parliament turned public. Lehrmann, who was not named within the interview and denies all allegations towards him, texted Macgowan that he wanted “luggage” and wished to “get lit”.
Macgowan, chatting with Crikey in 2023, didn’t converse to the content material of the texts, however stated he had been offering casual media recommendation to Lehrmann “as a good friend”.
“I used to be closely concerned throughout the trial,” he stated. “However I by no means acquired fee or something. And never anymore — Bruce’s authorized staff is dealing with that facet of issues now.”
After which there are the Taylor Auerbach revelations. Once more, it might be the corporate, however Macgowan actually doesn’t come off the worst. In accordance with Auerbach’s affidavit, he was on the journey to Tasmania to barter the phrases of Lehrmann’s interview with Community Seven’s Highlight, was on the inexperienced for the $400 spherical of golf, and attended dinners together with the one with the notorious $361 steak — however, Auerbach made clear Macgowan “didn’t profit from the Thai massages” that he claims have been initially placed on the Seven bank card: “My recollection is that he left quickly after the masseuses arrived.”
Macgowan’s response: “It’s the primary instance of a information story that really qualifies as cosmic horror, an intangible idea that drives the individuals concerned mad.”
