Winston Churchill’s insight cuts a little deep right now. Chaos is not good for business, but savvy politicians recognise the value of a crisis. Periods of disruption create space for governments to reposition, reshape narratives, and pursue policy directions that might otherwise face resistance. Chaos, in that sense, is not just a byproduct of politics; […]

“Known knowns, known unknowns and unknown unknowns” This was former US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld’s famous quote on intelligence reports on weapons of mass destruction used to justify the invasion of Iraq in 2002. It sounds eerily familiar to another Donald’s justifications for the war on Iran. Fast forward to April 2026, and the conflict […]

Clients and friends of the SAS Group, Many of us would know the phrase ‘This too shall pass‘ as an exhortation to remember the impermanence of any situation, including the human condition. Perhaps what might be less-well known to some is the fact that the phrase has its roots in Persian Sifu poetry and wisdom, which is […]

It’s now almost 16 months since the Queensland State election saw the government change from Labor to the Liberal National Party. The result made it clear that Labor’s path back to government must include regional Queensland. The Crisafulli Government holds 53 seats, Labor holds 35, Katter’s Australia Party holds two, the Greens holds one and […]

Many of you will know Stephen Stills’ 1970 hit ‘Love the One You’re With’. The song – covered by great artists like David Crosby and Aretha Franklin – is memorable for its great refrain “And if you can’t be with the one you love, honey / Love the one you’re with”. These lyrics should serve as […]

Thirty years ago, the Coalition romped into power, winning a record 94 seats from the Keating ALP Government, including my old seat of Richmond in northern New South Wales.  I joined this Parliamentary Class of ‘96 along with Anthony Albanese and Pauline Hanson. History shows mixed fortunes: In 1998, Pauline failed to win the seat […]

Clients and friends, I’m pleased to share some exciting news about a new addition to the SAS Group’s network, which further strengthens our advisory capability and expands the services we can offer. We have joined forces with Sabio, a highly regarded strategic communications and stakeholder engagement consultancy with a strong track record advising organisations across government, […]

Right now, politics feels noisy, but when you step back from the clamour and look at Queensland’s polling, a calmer and far more revealing picture comes into focus. It is a picture that fits squarely within the spirit of Queensland’s motto: Audax at Fidelis or ‘Bold but Faithful’. The latest polling shows the LNP leading Labor 56 per cent […]

Everything over the next ten weeks will build towards the Budget on 12 May. Structural spending pressures like the NDIS, defence, aged care and health are all growing faster than revenue. And the external environment is compounding the challenge: rising energy costs tied to conflict in the Middle East, US tariffs (still in flux), and […]