Commonwealth Bank chief executive Matt Comyn sold approximately $8.4 million worth of CBA shares last week, a transaction that initially appeared routine — until it emerged that Comyn and his wife, Lucy, are working through the terms of a separation, which the bank has since confirmed.
The share disclosure, lodged with the market on 14 August, revealed a sequence of transactions: Comyn first acquired just over 30,000 shares through vested equity forming part of his remuneration package. He then sold shares in two separate tranches — 30,006 shares at $168.18 each, realising just over $5 million, followed by a second parcel of 20,091 shares at $168.80, worth around $3.4 million.
Share sale leaves Comyn's direct holding largely unchanged
Despite the headline figure, the net effect of the transactions left Comyn's direct shareholding roughly where it stood the day prior. The activity is also broadly consistent with a pattern of annual share sales he has conducted each year since at least 2022, suggesting the scale of the transaction is not unusual in isolation.
A Commonwealth Bank spokesman declined to comment on whether the share sale had any connection to the separation. However, the second tranche of shares sold is understood to have been jointly held by Comyn and Lucy as beneficiaries of a trust — a detail that raises questions about whether the transactions were at least partly designed to free up liquid assets as the couple work through the financial complexities of their split.
Liquidating jointly held assets is a common step in separation proceedings, as it can simplify the division of property and provide both parties with accessible funds during what is often a drawn-out legal and financial process.
One Nation lobbyists in demand as corporates seek political access
Separately, the corporate lobbying world is buzzing with activity around One Nation, as businesses scramble to establish relationships with the party amid its rising poll numbers.
Lobbyist Jannette Cotterell, who founded Executive Counsel Australia in 2008 after a five-year stint at CT Group — formerly known as Crosby Textor — has positioned herself as one of those with existing lines into One Nation leader Pauline Hanson. In a recent LinkedIn post, Cotterell felt it necessary to clarify that "engagement does not equal endorsement."
Her name joins several others circulating in political circles as potential One Nation relationship brokers, including:
- James Radford, media adviser to Gina Rinehart
- Michael Kauter, a former Nationals deputy campaign director turned conservative lobbyist
- Scott Mitchell, who served five years as federal director of the Nationals before establishing his own lobbying practice
With One Nation's popularity expected to hold through to at least 2028, demand for fixers with Hanson's ear shows no sign of slowing.
Retail trading platform Superhero scores meeting with Prime Minister
In other Canberra corridors, Dean Shachar — former chief of staff to ex-opposition leader Sussan Ley — wasted little time in his new role, securing a meeting with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on behalf of retail share trading platform Superhero.
Shachar posted about the encounter on LinkedIn, noting that Superhero's co-founders — chief executive John Winters and chief technology officer Wayne Baskin — were also present. The pair reportedly presented the Prime Minister with a Hawthorn Football Club jersey during the meeting.
The visit appeared to be a straightforward lobbying call, with the Superhero founders using the access to promote their platform's interests directly to the nation's top office.
