Scott Morrison hired banker at height of royal commission

The Australian 12:00am June 5, 2018

Greg Brown

Scott Morrison hired a National Australia Bank general manager to be a senior adviser in his office at the same time as revelations of appalling behaviour of the big banks were unveiled at the banking royal commission.

The Treasurer poached NAB’s general manager of corporate and institutional banking, Adam Clark, to start in his office in April, the same month he warned that executives of major institutions could face jail time for some of the wrongdoings revealed in the Hayne royal commission.

Mr Clark, who The Australian does not suggest was involved in any of the behaviour being outlined before the royal commission, worked under former NSW Liberal premier Mike Baird, now chief customer officer in the same division at NAB. Mr Baird landed the executive role at NAB just four months after he quit as NSW premier to spend more time with his family.

Mr Morrison and Malcolm Turnbull reluctantly established the banking royal commission late last year because they were concerned Nationals MPs would cross the floor and help Labor create one anyway. Hearings started in March and revelations of potentially criminal behaviour were made in April hearings.

Australian Council of Trade Unions secretary Sally McManus attacked Mr Morrison for hiring a senior banker at the same time as the royal commission was running.

“The Treasurer has hired a big-business banker as a senior adviser while the big banks are in front of a royal commission,” Ms McManus said.

“How can working people have any faith in a treasurer who prioritises and seeks out this kind of adviser?”

Mr Clark worked for NAB from 2010 and now advises Mr Morrison on financial services.