Nick Bolkus (born 17 July 1950)[1] 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.
Bolkus was appointed to the outer Ministry as Minister for Consumer Affairs and Minister Assisting the Treasurer for Prices (1988–90).[1] 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).[1]
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.[3]
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.[4] In this portfolio he introduced world leading legislation to protect the privacy of individuals in their relationships with credit data agencies.[5] 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,[6] music and book industries.[7]
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.[8] In this portfolio he introduced comprehensive legislation for the disclosure of political donations.[9] He transitioned the Department to a commercialized, corporatized and competitive body.[10] 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.[11] 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:
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[13]
fundamental restructuring of the business migration program[14]
the first review of the Australian Citizenship Act since its 1948 introduction[15]
the establishment of the Refugee Review Tribunal[16]
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[17] He was Chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Constitutional and Legal Affairs.[18] He represented the Australian Parliament at the 1983 and 1984 Constitutional Conventions and at the 41st General Assembly of the United Nations in 1986.[19]
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.[20] Abbott accused Bolkus of having breached the legal requirements of accepting a political donation.[21] Abbott also accused Bolkus of money laundering,[22] however it became clear that the matter was in fact not a breach of any regulations regarding political donations.[23] Bolkus successfully sued Nationwide News in the District Court of South Australia for defamation in Bolkus v Nationwide News.[24]
Post-Parliamentary Career
Lobbying
Until 2015, Bolkus was a partner at Bespoke Approach, a corporate advisory firm.[25] Bespoke Approach is now owned by corporate and political advisor Ian Smith and former Senior Vice-President at News CorporationAndrew Butcher.[26]
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.[27]
Directorships and advisory positions
Nick Bolkus is the Chairman of Directors of Nuturf Australia Pty Ltd,[28] and Envirogreen Pty Ltd.[29] and Director of Wondertreat Aust Pty Ltd.and Ecofertiliser Pty Ltd.[30]
He is Adviser to the Australian Hokkien Association.[31]
He is also currently a Director of the industry based Australian Fisheries Academy.[32]
^corporateName=Australian Electoral Commission; address=10 Mort Street, Canberra ACT 2600; contact=13 23 26. "Possible donation ALP SA and Mr Nick Bolkus (2001)". Australian Electoral Commission. Retrieved 30 September 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
^Cabinet, Department of the Premier and (1 January 2003). "Register of Lobbyists". www.dpc.sa.gov.au. Archived from the original on 11 May 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
