BHP Billiton Appoints Labor Man To New Public Affairs Role

MELBOURNE -(Dow Jones)- BHP Billiton Ltd. (BHP.AU) has created a new position of director of public affairs and appointed former senior Australian Labor Party staffer Geoff Walsh.

Walsh was a senior adviser to former Australian Prime Ministers Bob Hawke and Paul Keating and was most recently chief of staff to Victorian state Premier Steve Bracks.

BHP said Walsh, who will report to Kloppers, will be responsible for government relations in Australia and coordination of the company’s communications globally.

"Geoff joins the company at an exciting and important time in its development and will bring valuable experience in government and communications to our team," Chief Executive Marius Kloppers said.

The creation of the new position comes as BHP is engaging in a global campaign to convince investors and corporate regulators of the virtues of its bid for rival Rio Tinto Ltd. (RTP).

The appointment of Walsh, a respected Labor figure, also follows the return of the Labor party to power in Canberra, with its election victory over the coalition between the Liberal and National parties, which had ruled for 11 years.