Which former MPs now work for gas or coal companies?

March 3, 2016
Issue 
John Anderson, former National's leader now Eastern Star Gas chief.

What do politicians do after leaving parliament to earn a few more dollars? They go and work for gas and coal companies.

• Former Nationals leader and Deputy Prime Minister John Anderson became chair of Eastern Star Gas — the company behind the Narrabri Gas Project now owned by Santos — about 2 years after leaving politics.

• Former National's leader and Deputy Prime Minister Mark Vaile became a director and then chair of Whitehaven coal.

• Former Labor resources minister Martin Ferguson became chairperson of the Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association Advisory Board in October 2013, just six months after he left parliament. The lobbying code of conduct requires an 18-month cooling-off period for ex-ministers.

• Former federal Labor trade minister Craig Emerson became a consultant for AGL Energy and Santos.

• Former foreign minister Alexander Downer was a registered lobbyist with Bespoke Approach, whose clients included Woodside Petroleum, Xstrata, Petrochina and Yancoal among its clients.

• Former Labor climate change minister Greg Combet became a consultant to AGL Energy and Santos.

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