Marcus Bastiaan
{{Short description|Australian businessman}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2017}}
{{Use Australian English|date=December 2017}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix =
| name =Marcus Bastiaan
| nationality =Australian
| smallimage =File:Marcus Bastiaan Businessman b.jpg
| caption =Bastiaan in the 2020s
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| birth_place =Melbourne, Victoria
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| party =Liberal Party
| spouse =Stephanie Bastiaan
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Marcus Bastiaan (born 1990){{cite web |last=McKenzie-Murray |first=Martin |date=May 12, 2018 |title=The Victorian right's capture of the Liberal Party |url=https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/politics/2018/05/12/the-victorian-rights-capture-the-liberal-party/15260472006213 |website=The Saturday Paper |publisher=}} is an Australian businessman, industry advocate and political power broker.{{Cite web |date=August 8, 2024 |title=Opening and Closing Doors |url=https://www.timberandforestryenews.com/opening-and-closing-doors/ |website=Timber & Forestry e News}} He is a former vice-president of the Victorian Division of the Liberal Party of Australia.{{Cite web |last=Preiss |first=Benjamin |date=September 6, 2018 |title=Rising powerbroker Marcus Bastiaan quits Liberal power hub |url=https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/rising-powerbroker-marcus-bastiaan-quits-liberal-power-hub-20180906-p5023l.html |website=The Age}}
Politics
Bastiaan joined the Liberal Party in Victoria in 2010.{{Cite web |last=Adamis |first=Peter |date=March 23, 2018 |title=The Lion – Marcus Bastiaan |url=https://abalinx.com/blog/the-lion-marcus-bastiaan/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220118141336/https://abalinx.com/blog/the-lion-marcus-bastiaan/ |archive-date=January 18, 2022 |website=Abalinx & Associates}} In 2012, he stood unsuccessfully for Bayside Council in Melbourne's inner south local government election. Bastiaan polled the third-highest primary among 16 candidates and lost on preferences.{{cite web |title=2012 Election Results |url=https://www.vec.vic.gov.au/results/council-election-results/2012-election-results |website=vec.vic.gov.au}} Bastiaan later became chair of the party's Goldstein branch and Brighton branch.{{cite web |date=8 September 2015 |title=Nepal Fundraising & Breakfast with Minister - Consulate General of Nepal in Victoria |url=http://nepalconsulate.net.au/nepal-fundraising-breakfast-with-minister/ |website=Nepal Consulate AU |publisher=}} Between 2015 and 2018 Bastiaan was elected to the Liberal Party's Administrative Committee and served as Vice Chairman and Chairman of the Party's Membership and Training Committee.{{Cite web |date= |title=About Us - Liberal Victoria |url=https://vic.liberal.org.au/AboutUs/PartyMembers |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180816130210/https://vic.liberal.org.au/AboutUs/PartyMembers |archive-date=2018-08-16 |access-date= |website=vic.liberal.org.au}}{{cite web |date=2017-10-05 |title=Kroger wins |url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/blogs/andrew-bolt/kroger-wins/news-story/eac32642c1cea692d84c2425d96a383b |accessdate=2018-06-07 |publisher=Herald Sun}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-08-24/marcus-bastaain-resigns-victorian-liberal-branch-stacking/12588886|title=Former Victorian Liberal vice-president resigns from party after secret recordings aired|newspaper=ABC News|date=24 August 2020}}
Bastiann's father helped him with his business pursuitss.https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/how-the-victorian-liberals-conservative-warlords-tore-the-party-apart-20200828-p55q9z.html
He has been seen by some as a protégé of former Victorian state Liberal president and fellow Liberal powerbroker Michael Kroger. Bastiaan has written in the Herald Sun and Spectator advocating for democratisation and greater parliamentary renewal within the Liberal Party.{{cite web |date=14 October 2016 |title=October Revolution: Time for democracy in the NSW Liberals |url=https://www.spectator.com.au/2016/10/october-revolution-time-for-democracy-in-the-nsw-liberals/ |website=Spectator AU}}{{Cite news |title=Victorian Libs risk another decade in opposition |url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/opinion/victorian-liberal-party-needs-drastic-change-from-within/news-story/38c2886698ca00396f90c40ed757ec17 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20230429102005/https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/opinion/victorian-liberal-party-needs-drastic-change-from-within/news-story/38c2886698ca00396f90c40ed757ec17 |archive-date=2023-04-29 |access-date=2024-12-20 |work=heraldsun |language=en-GB}} Bastiaan has been critical of lobbyist and union involvement within political parties, stating "Union or lobbyist domination of governments leads to broad-based supporter disenchantment, political cronyism and widespread voter disillusionment.”{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/oct/16/liberal-members-should-vote-on-nsw-preselection-reforms-says-sinodinos|title=Liberal members should vote on NSW preselection reforms, says Sinodinos|newspaper=The Guardian|date=16 October 2016|last1=Chan|first1=Gabrielle}} Bastiaan was a supporter of the NSW Liberal Party Democratic Reform, speaking alongside former Prime Minister Tony Abbott.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/jul/21/ethicist-simon-longstaff-speak-nsw-liberal-convention-on-opening-up-preselection|title=Compromise urged in Tony Abbott-backed preselection reform|newspaper=The Guardian|date=20 July 2017|last1=Chan|first1=Gabrielle }}{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaBnRey2JO8|title=Marcus Bastiaan - Democratic Reform Convention|website=YouTube|date=22 October 2016 }}
In 2017, Four Corners reported that the Kroger/Bastiaan group had taken control of the Liberal Victorian Administrative Committee.{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-11-13/malcolm-turnbull-circled-by-conservatives/9136960|title=Turnbull is at his weakest and the conservatives are circling|newspaper=ABC News|date=13 November 2017|publisher=|last1=Brissenden|first1=Michael}}
Bastiaan was elected metropolitan vice-president of the administrative committee in 2018.
In September 2018 Bastiaan announced that, due to the serious illness of an immediate family member, he and his wife Stephanie would step down from their voluntary roles within the party.{{Cite news |date=September 6, 2018 |title=Liberal powerbroker couple to step down |url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/liberal-powerbroker-couple-marcus-bastiaan-and-stephanie-ross-to-step-down/news-story/f52f9661b859547962620ada75737960 |access-date=February 20, 2025 |work=HeraldSun}}
The Age newspaper reported leaked text messages allegedly from Bastiaan that used homophobic terms.{{Cite news |title=Liberal powerbrokers in racist and homophobic text furore |url=https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/liberal-powerbrokers-in-racist-and-homophobic-text-furore-20181218-p50n2b.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190111003531/https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/liberal-powerbrokers-in-racist-and-homophobic-text-furore-20181218-p50n2b.html |archive-date=January 11, 2019 |work=The Age}} Bastiaan was cleared of “detrimental conduct” by a Liberal Party investigation and reporting on the matter was removed by the publisher.{{cite web|url=https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/social-media-app-blocks-lewd-offensive-posts-linked-to-liberals-20190629-p522it.html|title=Social media app blocks lewd, offensive posts linked to Liberals|newspaper=The Age|date=June 29, 2019|language=en}}
Bastiaan has been accused of branch stacking since 2015.{{cite news |date=July 11, 2017 |title=Conservative Liberals hatch plan to thwart dying with dignity laws |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-07-11/conservative-liberals-plan-victoria-dying-with-dignity-laws/8696604 |newspaper=ABC News |publisher=}}{{cite web |last=Willingham |first=Richard |date=February 13, 2017 |title=Liberal preselection candidate lashes out at Matthew Guy over gas policy |url=http://www.thecourier.com.au/story/4465365/liberal-preselection-candidate-lashes-out-at-matthew-guy-over-gas-policy/?cs=7 |publisher=}}
In August 2020, allegations were made by Channel Nine's 60 Minutes and The Age that Bastiaan was involved in branch stacking activities. {{cite web|title=Victorian Liberal powerbroker Marcus Bastiaan resigns from party following branch stacking allegations|website=ABC News|date=24 August 2020|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-08-24/marcus-bastaain-resigns-victorian-liberal-branch-stacking/12588886|access-date=5 March 2024}}{{cite web|last=Harris|first=Rob|title=How the Victorian Liberals' conservative warlords tore the party apart|website=amp.theage.com.au|date=28 August 2020|url=https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/how-the-victorian-liberals-conservative-warlords-tore-the-party-apart-20200828-p55q9z.html|access-date=5 March 2024}}{{cite news|date=26 August 2020|title=Why won't Frydenberg save the Victorian Liberals?|url=https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/why-won-t-frydenberg-save-the-victorian-liberals-from-themselves-20200824-p55on3|publisher=Australian Financial Review}} Bastiaan rejected these allegations. He stated that his role as Chair of the Membership and Training Committee was to recruit and train members.{{Cite web|last=Sakkal|first=Rob Harris, Paul|date=2020-08-28|title=How the Victorian Liberals' conservative warlords tore the party apart|url=https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/how-the-victorian-liberals-conservative-warlords-tore-the-party-apart-20200828-p55q9z.html|access-date=2020-12-30|website=The Age|language=en}}
Bastiaan was also accused of installing factional operatives in Michael Sukkar and Kevin Andrews' electorate offices.{{Cite news |date=25 August 2020 |title=Sukkar helped install factional operatives in Kevin Andrews' office |url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/sukkar-helped-install-factional-operatives-in-kevin-andrews-office-20200825-p55p1b.html |work=The Age}}{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-10-14/mps-cleared-wrongdoing-victorian-liberal-branch-stacking/12764486|title=Michael Sukkar and Kevin Andrews cleared of wrongdoing after allegations of Victorian Liberal Party branch stacking|access-date=2020-10-14|website=ABC News|date=13 October 2020|language=en}}{{cite news|url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/knives-out-for-victorian-liberal-president-robert-clark-amid-harmful-infighting/news-story/74b50332dd18e5e81c2f18ee6e20b1c4|title=Knives out for Liberal president|access-date=2020-12-18|website=The Australian|language=en}}
Bastiaan launched legal proceedings against Nine Entertainment (the owner of the Nine Network, The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald) following the 60 Minutes program. Nine Entertainment settled a defamation lawsuit with Bastiaan, leading to the removal of dozens of articles and social media posts.{{cite news|date=23 January 2023|title=Nine Entertainment settles defamation case with former Victorian Liberal Party powerbroker Marcus Bastiaan|url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/media/nine-entertainment-settles-defamation-case-with-former-victorian-liberal-party-powerbroker-marcus-bastiaan/news-story/a5b422355652e457bd89be1e3c507807|accessdate=23 January 2023|publisher=The Australian Business Review}}{{cite news |date=January 24, 2023 |title=Victorian Liberal Party powerbroker wins major defamation suit against 60 Minutes |url=https://7news.com.au/video/news/australia/victorian-liberal-party-powerbroker-wins-major-defamation-suit-against-60-minutes-bc-6319111449112 |work=7 News AU}}
Bastiaan was further cleared of any wrong doing by the Liberal Party and independent auditor Korda Mentha.{{Cite news |date=August 29, 2023 |title=Ex-Libs powerbroker launches legal fight over branch stacking claims |url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/truecrimeaustralia/police-courts-victoria/exliberal-party-powerbroker-marcus-bastiaan-lodges-action-over-branch-stacking-claims/news-story/839a2fa2728bebbfef1619c5b154e946 |work=heraldsun.com.au}}{{Cite news |date=January 23, 2023 |title=Nine pays six figures to bigwig |url=https://www.ntnews.com.au/business/nine-entertainment-settles-defamation-case-with-former-victorian-liberal-party-powerbroker-marcus-bastiaan/news-story/a5b422355652e457bd89be1e3c507807 |work=ntnews.com.au}}
Following Bastiaan’s legal win he appeared on Sky News with Cory Bernardi stating "until the Liberal Party in Victoria can work out how it's going to govern itself it will never govern in Victoria." He appealed to the Victorian Liberal Party to "get back to its fundamental values set, and that is to reduce the size of government and the cost of government”.{{cite news |date=January 23, 2023 |title=Liberal Party will never "govern" in Victoria |url=https://www.skynews.com.au/opinion/liberal-party-will-never-govern-in-victoria/video/3019c92d2709a69faed1bf85b655a768 |work=SkyNews AU}}
Bastiaan continues to be involved in internal Liberal Party politics and advocates for policy issues, writing and appearing in the media.{{cite news |date=February 16, 2021 |title=Victorian Liberal Party needs drastic change from within |url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/opinion/victorian-liberal-party-needs-drastic-change-from-within/news-story/38c2886698ca00396f90c40ed757ec17 |work=Herald Sun}}{{cite news |title=Spectator Australia articles by Marcus Bastiaan |url=https://www.spectator.com.au/author/marcus-bastiaan/ |work=spectator.com.au}}
Bastiaan has contributed several political opinion pieces to The Spectator Australia.
Business
Bastiaan has run several successful technology businesses, including e-commerce and logistics start-ups. Bastiaan is currently director of a door manufacturing business.{{Cite web |date=February 17, 2017 |title=Victorian Liberals: Factional fight exposes deep divisions |url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/victorian-liberals-factional-fight-exposes-deep-divisions-20170217-gufg6b.html |website=The Age}}{{Cite web |title=Man Behind The Badge 2 - Marcus Bastiaan |url=http://rotarybrighton.com.au/images/thursday10october2013.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180329003322/http://rotarybrighton.com.au/images/Thursday10October2013.pdf |archive-date=March 29, 2018 |access-date=October 13, 2017 |website=Rotary Brighton}} Specialty Doors has production plants in Victoria and Queensland.{{Cite web |date=May 28, 2024 |title=Specialty Doors goes for growth |url=https://www.manmonthly.com.au/specialty-doors-goes-for-growth/ |website=Man Monthly AU}}{{Cite web |date=June 6, 2024 |title=DOORS OPEN INTERSTATE |url=https://www.timberandforestryenews.com/doors-open-interstate/ |website=Timber and Forestry e News}}{{Cite web |date=May 31, 2024 |title=Manufacturers now forced to source hardwood offshore |url=https://www.timberbiz.com.au/manufacturers-now-forced-to-source-hardwood-offshore/ |website=Timber Biz AU}} In 2023, Bastiaan moved Specialty Doors into a manufacturing plant in Dandenong South. He also set up a logistics hub for the company on the Gold Coast.
In 2024, Bastiaan founded the timber profiling and component service Specialty Commercial and the acoustic product company Specialty Acoustics.{{Cite web |date=December 11, 2024 |title=New businesses, a Specialty |url=https://www.timberandforestryenews.com/new-businesses-a-specialty/ |access-date=2025-02-19 |website=Timber and Forestry e News |language=en-AU}}
Bastiaan has been critical of government led forestry closures in Victoria and NSW, due to the impact on businesses within the sector and regional communities. He has advocated for forestry policy that transitions timber production from native forests to plantations.{{Cite web|title=VicForests hung themselves and the industry out to dry|url=https://www.timberbiz.com.au/opinion-marcus-bastiaan-vicforests-hung-themselves-and-the-industry-out-to-dry/|newspaper=TimberBiz|date=May 3, 2024}}{{Cite web|title=Green feels chop over Labor deals|url=https://www.spectator.com.au/2023/10/a-tinderbox-of-incompetence/|newspaper=The Spectator (Australia)|date=October 24, 2023}}{{Cite web |date=October 24, 2023 |title=A tinderbox of incompetence |url=https://www.spectator.com.au/2024/07/green-feels-chop-over-labor-deals/ |access-date=February 20, 2025 |newspaper=The Spectator (Australia)}}
Personal life
Bastiaan graduated from Brighton Grammar in 2008. He married Stephanie Ross in May 2017 at Our Lady of Victories Basilica Catholic Church in Camberwell. His wife writes for The Spectator, Australia.{{Cite news |date=June 29, 2017 |title=Radar goes dark at QBE: where is Colin Fagen? |url=https://theaustralian.com.au/business/margin-call/margin-call-smiggle-boss-goes-to-spain/news-story/89ea1828955f2a89a8e447f244171f33 |access-date=February 20, 2025 |work=The Australian}} They have five daughters.{{Cite web |title=Specialty Doors - Marcus Bastiaan |url=https://specialtydoors.com.au/marcus-bastiaan/ |accessdate=January 18, 2025 |website=Specialty Doors}}
Bastiaan is the grandson of Wolfe Morris.{{cite news |date=November 14, 2024 |title=Israel or nothing |url=https://www.spectator.com.au/2024/11/israel-or-nothing/ |newspaper=The Spectator (Australia)}}