Peter Dutton is receiving free legal advice from law firm Arnold Bloch Leibler but Dutton won’t say why which is a massive scandal given we are only a few months away from an election and voters have a right to know.
It was reported on the 27th of December 2024 by the SMH:
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has updated his gifts register two days before Christmas to reveal he is receiving free legal advice from a politically connected Melbourne law firm regarding undisclosed “legal matters”.
On December 23, Dutton declared three new gifts from different benefactors, including Chinese tea, a bottle of whiskey, and “ongoing legal assistance from Arnold Bloch Leibler re legal matters”.
Arnold Bloch Leibler specialises in commercial law, particularly tax disputes, but also has a history of providing advice to politicians on matters ranging from defamation to their eligibility to serve in parliament.
A spokeswoman for Dutton declined to answer questions about the nature of the advice, its dollar value and whether the opposition leader believed the gift created any perceived conflict of interest.
“We do not comment on any legal matters,” the spokeswoman said.
When asked about Dutton’s legal advice, Arnold Bloch Leibler senior partner Mark Leibler told this masthead: “I’m not going to talk about it”.
Geoffrey Watson, SC, a barrister and a director of the Centre for Public Integrity, said Dutton should provide at least a general description to the public. (Click here to read more)
Is Peter Dutton being investigated for criminal offences or civil offences or does Dutton want legal advice to hide his ill-gotten $millions?
We’ll have a look at Peter Dutton and his free legal advice closer in a minute but first let’s look at the law firm giving the free advice and their links to the Liberal Party and Labor Party.
Law firm Arnold Bloch Leibler – Offices in Melbourne and Sydney
Arnold Bloch Leibler have previously given free legal advice and services to Tony Abbott for defamation, Bill Shorten for a Royal Commission and alleged rape, Josh Frydenberg for a lawsuit to have him disbarred from parliament and currently Peter Dutton for a secret reason.
Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott – Free legal advice and services in 2012
“Though previously disclosed, the prime minister did list pro bono legal advice in a defamation case brought by John Setka. Abbott is represented Michael Wheelahan, Timothy McEvoy and Arnold Bloch Leibler.” (Click here to read more)
It was reported in 2013:
“Leading Melbourne law firm Arnold Bloch Leibler recently celebrated its 60th anniversary with a cocktail party at which Prime Minister Tony Abbott was a special guest along with a plethora of VIPs including Israel’s ambassador to Australia.” (Click here to read more)
Former Labor leader Bill Shorten – Free legal advice and services from 2014 to 2016
Arnold Bloch Leibler, and former federal court judge Ray Finkelstein, represented Bill Shorten during the Trade Union Royal Commission from 2014 until 2016, and maybe longer, for free. (Click here to read more)
Arnold Bloch Leibler also “represented then Opposition Leader Bill Shorten when he faced a historic rape allegation in 2014.” (Click here to read more)
Bill Shorten sold a house in 2019 and “The change of title documents were lodged by Arnold Bloch Leibler. The law firm has a lot of history with Shorten, partner Leon Zwier having represented Shorten (pro bono) at the 2015 trade union royal commission” (Click here to read more)
Josh Frydenberg – Free legal advice and services in 2019 and 2022
The AFR reported in February 2022:
Arnold Bloch Leibler performed an honourable public service representing Josh Frydenberg in the abhorrent challenge to the Treasurer’s Australian citizenship brought by activist Michael Staindl, who told The Age last week that ABL’s costs of $410,000 (plus interest) would bankrupt him.
ABL also represented Frydenberg in his (failed) 2016 attempt to suppress a transcript of his Australian Federal Police interview in 2003, when Frydenberg was an adviser to foreign minister Alexander Downer and the AFP were investigating a major intelligence leak to Herald Sun columnist Andrew Bolt. (Click here to read more)
Former Liberal Party MPs Arthur Sinodinos and Jason Falinski have also received free legal advice and services from law firm Arnold Bloch Leibler.
One thing that Peter Dutton, Bill Shorten, Tony Abbott and Josh Frydenberg have in common is that they are all big supporters of Israel and I would assume Arthur Sinodinos and Jason Falinski are as well.
Supporting Israel seems to be a requirement for the federal politicians to receive the free legal advice and services.
The Age reported in August 2023:
In 1969, when Mark Leibler joined Arnold Bloch to partner in a small Lonsdale Street law venture, he “knew full well that, being a Jewish lawyer, none of the establishment firms would have taken me on”, Leibler told an audience in the Grand Hyatt Melbourne Savoy Ballroom on Monday night.
The glittering guest list for the event – Arnold Bloch Leibler’s 70th anniversary – was evidence the firm is small no longer. Anthony Albanese was listed as the guest of honour in a room stacked with political heavies, including Labor ministers Bill Shorten and Mark Dreyfus, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and his Coalition rival John Pesutto. (Click here to read more)
Brittany Higgins – Legal services for the Bruce Lehrmann and Linda Reynolds defamation cases
When I read that Arnold Bloch Leibler lawyer Leon Zwier is representing Brittany Higgins for the Bruce Lehrmann defamation case my first thought was, “are Arnold Bloch Leibler playing both sides of the fence, given their close relationship with the Liberal Party, and leaking to the Liberal Party”.
It was reported in December 2023:
“Brittany Higgins’ lawyer Leon Zwier was secretly recorded last week at a Sydney bar discussing with her fiancee David Sharaz how she could answer cross examination questions about her secret $2.4 million payout.”
Mr Zwier has strongly denied that he was coaching his client through her fiancee David Sharaz – which is strictly prohibited during cross examination. (Click here to read more)
I have to wonder if Leon Zwier declared the conflict of interest to Brittany Higgins. But I assume Brittany Higgins is happy with Arnold Bloch Leibler and lawyer Leon Zwier, so I’ll leave it at that.
Foreign connection
Mark Leibler, an Arnold Bloch Leibler senior partner, serves as chairman of the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council, while his son Jeremy, also a partner at the firm, heads the Zionist Federation of Australia.
Should Australian politicians be receiving free legal advice from a law firm with close connections to a foreign government such as Israel whose Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and government are accused of war crimes and genocide? (Click here to read more)
A law firm knowing the dirty laundry of numerous Australian federal politicians would be very handy if the foreign country wanted to influence the Australian government.
I believe no law firm should be giving free legal advice to politicians. If politicians need legal advice relevant to their work, there are government lawyers who can help them.
The reality:
What would happen if a law firm with close links to China or Russia gave the same type of free legal advice and services to federal politicians?
What would happen if accounting firms gave free advice to federal politicians on how to minimise tax and/or how to set up tax avoiding companies in the Cayman Islands?
Peter Dutton’s free legal advice
Is Peter Dutton giving, or has he promised to give, anything back to Arnold Bloch Leibler in return for their free legal advice? I have no doubt he has.
Is Peter Dutton facing criminal charges by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) for the Paladin $532 million fraud scam or the Canstruct $1.8 billion fraud scam when Dutton was Home Affairs Minister?
Is Peter Dutton facing allegations from a former staffer like numerous other MP’s have faced?
Is Peter Dutton getting advice on his family trust to hide his $millions?
We know what other federal politicians received their free legal advice for, as per above, and Australia has a federal election due by May 2025 and we have a right to know what Peter Dutton is getting free legal advice for especially if it goes to his suitability as a politician.
The above raises a lot of issues but in the short-term the federal election is the main issue and given parliament will be sitting next week someone in Canberra should demand that Peter Dutton reveals what his “free” legal advice is for.
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Categories: Peter Dutton
Fortunately Dutton may lose his seat at the next election – with any luck! IMO he has repeatedly disgraced himself as a politician, and has no place as leader of Australia. His thuggery will be directed at racism in particular and perpetuate violence against all disadvantaged people.
scammers all
This article will without doubt label you as anti Semitic, as it is becoming the norm in Australia that any commentary about the Jewish community is labelled as such, even when it is objective.
The zionists and its 5th column is behind a lot of the worlds worst atrocities. The US is riddled with them and we are no different.
Is’nt it interesting one law firm works for Liberal & Labor? and possible other political parties. Conflict of interest?
It looks like politicians are running their own secret society.
They are employed by the people, tax payers of Australia who deserve answers.
If you want to get rich get into politics.
Honourable? remove the title.
Akways look for the common links
It’s a taboo to make any criticism of the Jewish diaspora and their influence on our polity. The political class are a parcel of rogues who would sell their nearest and dearist to achieve their goals of power and wealth.
Dutton suddenly being interested in racism for the first time in his life is interesting, but I guess racism against white people gets a convenient pass.
KCA – this could be an opportunity for you to shine here!
In all fairness Arnold Bloch Leibler have donated money gifts, and gives pro bono support to both main political parties and to individual MPs. How many cases have been secreted? They all want their illegally accrued millions of dollars kept secret.
The firm’s 70th birthday last year drew politicians from both Labor and Liberals including Albanese, billionaires Anthony Pratt, Solomon Lew, John Gandel and the Fox family, chief executives and former High Court judge Ken Hayne were among the guests. Dutton did not attend. Most of the firms closest relationships is with politicians and have been mainly with Labor prime ministers as Keating and Gillard.
Why have these issues not been investigated and brought to the forefront before previous federal elections? Perhaps there are too many Prime Ministers and politicians involved.
Mark Leibler and Arnold Bloch Leibler may serves as chairman of the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council, but in the last recent decades, Mark Leibler has been an advocate of the Indigenous causes in Australia and played an important role in supporting Indigenous leaders like Noel Pearson – who in return wrote an endorsement for The Power Broker. Leibler also has lent considerable support to the Uluru Statement from the Heart.
Australian politicians should NOT be receiving free legal advice in return for favors which can be alleged is happening with each and every one of them and will possibly continue to happen, as on the face of it will never be eliminated.
When politicians accept free legal representation from a powerful firm with strong political and foreign ties, it undermines public trust. Voters are left wondering:
What does the law firm gain in return?
Could these services create a form of unspoken political obligation?
Would a firm with such influence be in a position to shape policy decisions behind closed doors?
Additionally, the secrecy surrounding these legal matters only deepens public suspicion. If politicians require legal assistance related to their public roles, taxpayer-funded legal services should be available. When private firms step in and provide these services for free, the potential for undue influence increases -especially when the firm has international connections, as Arnold Bloch Leibler does with Israel.
The lack of transparency also fuels speculation.
Is Dutton facing a corruption probe?
Is Shorten being shielded from past controversies?
Without clear explanations, the perception of political favouritism and elite protection only grows.
If a law firm with ties to China or Russia offered free legal advice to Australian politicians, there would likely be a national outcry. The same scrutiny should apply in this case. At a time when public confidence in politics is already low, the idea that politicians may be beholden to private law firms is deeply troubling.
Australians deserve answers, and those benefiting from these arrangements must explain themselves – before public trust erodes even further.
I have absolutely no trust in my federal parliamentary representative. He makes every effort to avoid accountability, showing complete disregard for those he is meant to serve.
Netanyahu faces criminal charges for accepting gifts/bribes. The NACC must take action against ours.
With all the money they have and they cannot afford to pay, freeloaders at it again.
What is the law firm gaining from this? Must be something in return?
Did not know Liebler was Chair of Australia/Israel Jewish Affairs council
He has also been representing the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra against artist Jayson Gillham whose performances were cancelled after he made comments about Gaza
Seems to be a bit of a conflict of interest there