Three years ago, if you’d told me I’d be writing a column for a corporate advisory newsletter, I’d have laughed. For most of my ministry, I stood in parishes, not boardrooms. I still do, some days. I continue to offer sacramental ministry as an Anglican Priest and a Third Order Franciscan, having taken vows of […]

This is something I’ve learned after years knocking around social policy and community services: an organisation can be doing wonderful work and still be one bad quarter from going under. Doing good and doing well aren’t the same thing — and pretending otherwise has cost this sector more than it should have. SAS Impact was […]

Millions of Australians woke up early on 19 July 2026 to watch the World Cup final between Argentina and Spain. The Socceroos were never in the running for the trophy, but we watched anyway – for the football and for Argentine Lionel Messi’s last dance at 39 years of age.  He was the best player […]

At a bipartisan government relations firm like SAS Group, you’re bound to hear one of the following terms: ‘blue human’ or ‘red human’, a.k.a. Coalition or Labor. And if you’ve read my articles before, including my glowing write-up of socialist NYC mayor Zohran Mamdani, you can probably figure out my politics. But I didn’t grow […]

The Child Safety Commission of Inquiry handed the Queensland Government 52 recommendations. The government’s response accepted, or accepted in principle, 48 of them. A pretty strong response. But acceptance isn’t impact, and impact is the only measure that matters to a kid in care. That’s the shift Queensland actually needs, and it’s urgent. A system […]

Four politicians walk into Tattersalls Club with 300 Queenslanders and an open bar … it wasn’t the start of a joke, it was Coal Australia’s Annual Dinner, and the SAS Group was there to watch the fireworks. With coal generating $38.4 billion for Queensland and providing 393,000 jobs, the room had plenty to celebrate. But the real entertainment […]

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”  Charles Dickens was writing about revolution. He could just as easily have been writing about Australian state politics in July.  While Queensland and Victoria occupy opposite ends of the eastern seaboard, this month they occupied opposite ends of the political cycle.  In Queensland, David Crisafulli’s […]

July belonged to the incumbents, though not comfortably. Labor spent the month at its National Conference running the same play it has run for a decade: debate managed behind closed doors, enough of it staged in public to show the party still has diversity of opinions, and a flare-up or two for the media. One […]

Clients and friends of the SAS Group, I’m very pleased to share with you today some news that will further enhance our ability to support you and promote your business interests right across Australia. The SAS Group has acquired a majority interest in Banksia Strategic Partners, a leading government relations and public advocacy business based […]