Coopers Brewery’s political engagement

A full-page advertisement in an Adelaide daily newspaper on the eve of the State election on 15 March 2014 reminded readers that “Coopers began life 152 years ago as a really small business with a bathtub as a brewery” and urged readers “to support the team who pledged its support to small business.” The ad, which showed a gilded bathtub, was signed by Tim Cooper, the Managing Director and his cousin Glenn Cooper, the Chairman of Australia’s number three brewer.

Although Coopers Brewery in its ad refrained from attacking the government directly, its message was still clear. The ad raised a few eyebrows among readers as it was a first for Coopers Brewery to voice its political opinion so publicly.

It certainly got South Australia’s Labor government worried, who were informed by the paper of the ad’s message even before the ad was printed.

With beer being such an important factor of South Australian pride, Labor Premier Jay Wetherill then decided to counter Cooper’s ad by arranging a photo opportunity for himself at the other Adelaide brewery, the West End brewery, which is owned by Australia’s major brewer, Lion. The photo was to appear in the same issue of the Adelaide Advertiser as Coopers’ ad – alas it never did.

The election gave Labor 23 seats, Liberal 22 seats and Independents 2 seats in the 47 seat Lower House. One Independent MP (Geoff Brock) has agreed to support Labor - the other Independent MP (Bob Such) did not commit either way before he took leave because of illness.

Thus, Labor is continuing to govern with the help of Mr Brock. It is possible that, in due course, there will be a by-election in Mr Such's seat … in this case, the seat is likely to go to a Liberal candidate and Labor and Liberal could have 23 seats each, with a lone Independent being able to tip the scales.

All in all, a messy situation and certainly not one that Tim and Glen Cooper wished or envisaged!