Simon Holmes à Court

Simon Holmes à Court (born 30 May 1972) is an Australian businessman and political activist. He is the son of Australia's first billionaire Robert Holmes à Court and convenor of Climate 200. He also serves senior advisor to the Climate and Energy College at Melbourne University, as director of the Smart Energy Council and the Australian Environmental Grant-makers Network.[1]

Simon Holmes à Court
Convenor of Climate 200
Assumed office
2019
Personal details
Born
Simon Antony Holmes à Court

(1972-05-30) 30 May 1972
Swan District Hospital, Midland, Perth, WA
NationalityAustralian
Spouse(s)Katrina Holmes à Court (nee von Möller)
RelationsPeter Holmes à Court (brother), Paul Holmes à Court (brother), Karl von Möller (Brother-in-law)
Children4
Parent(s)Robert Holmes à Court
Janet Ranford
EducationGeelong Grammar School
Alma materDartmouth College
OccupationEntrepenur, Convenor of Climate 200
CommitteesDirector of the Smart Energy Council

Early life

Holmes à Court was born in May 1972, the son of South African-born Australian businessman Robert Holmes à Court (who became Australia's first billionaire), and businesswoman (and chairperson of Heytesbury Pty Ltd), Janet Holmes à Court.

Holmes à Court grew up in Perth but he and his siblings were sent to Victoria to board at Geelong Grammar School. He began an arts/law degree at the University of Western Australia, where he was involved in student politics, but withdrew after a few years. He then moved to Malaysia to work for the family-owned John Holland Group on IT projects. Holmes à Court subsequently moved to the United States to study cognitive science and computer science at Dartmouth College.[2]

Holmes à Court stated that when he was two-and-a-half he "tried to unlock a power point with a car key" and that his mother "found me there wide eyed and conscious" with his right index finger "blasted to the bone."[3]

Career

After completing his degree, Holmes à Court spent five years working in Silicon Valley, including for Netscape, before returning to Australia in 2001. He then began began working for the family-owned Heytesbury Pty. Ltd. attempting to improve the efficiency of their eight cattle stations in the Northern Territory. He subsequently established Observant Pty Ltd as a company to develop remote water monitoring systems and other products.[2]

Holmes à Court was a driving force behind Australia's country's first community-owned wind farm, Hepburn Wind, near Daylesford in Central Victoria.[4] Holmes à Court stated "I got involved in Australia's first community-owned, wind farm in Hepburn. I went along to a public meeting and accidentally came out as the chairman."

Politics

Kooyong 200 and feud with Josh Frydenberg

Holmes à Court was a financial supporter and member of federal Liberal MP Josh Frydenberg's Kooyong200 fundraising arm. He was expelled by Frydenberg after he wrote an op-ed in Guardian Australia in 2018 supporting the closure of AGL's coal-fired Liddell power station.[5]

Later in 2019 Holmes à Court was kicked out of Geebung Polo Club (now Auburn Hotel in Hawthorn East) at a "meet the candidate" event with Frydenberg before the 2019 election. Holmes à Court stated "I found myself standing on the footpath with a glass of wine,” Holmes à Court says. “The hostess said, ‘You have to leave now.’ I said, ‘Can I finish my drink?’ She said, ‘No, the Treasurer says you have to leave now.’”[5]

Frydenberg criticised Holmes à Court for spending much of the COVID-19 Melbourne lockdowns at his farm in Daylesford with his family.[6] Holmes à Court responded by saying "I don't even understand his angle... two of my family members were seriously ill, it was the most shit fucking time ever, so Josh can fuck off, excuse me. It was not a pleasant time at all. He doesn't know me.”[5]

Climate 200

In the lead up to the 2019 Australian federal election, Climate200 raised nearly half a million dollars[7] for the campaign. It led to the election of Zali Steggall, Helen Haines and the re-election of Rebekha Sharkie.

Holmes à Court in 2020 leading up to the 2022 Australian Federal Election began to get more press coverage with Climate 200. On Thursday 14 October 2021 Holmes à Court appeared on Q+A alongside Liberal MP Tim Wilson, Labor MP Chris Bowen, Amelia Telford (Director of SEED Indigenous Youth Climate Network) and Anne Baker (Mayor of Issac Regional Council).[8]

Criticism

Holmes à Court was criticised in April 2019 for calling Senator Jane Hume out for “bitchiness”[5] and in February 2022 for calling Sarah Henderson a "#Crumbmaiden"[9]

Holmes à Court has been described by Warren Mundine as the "Clive Palmer but on the left" and that he is "just one of those filthy-rich spoiled brats who think they ... influence elections by spending millions and millions of dollars.”[10]

There are claims that Holmes à Court and his family could make a profit out of a "potential boom in clean energy."[11]

Liberal MP Jason Falinski claimed that Holmes à Court is "attempting to take over the Parliament with money" and that "He treats Australians as though their vote is for sale."[12]

Personal life

Holmes à Court is married to Katrina Holmes à Court (née von Möller) who is the sister of Australian film director Karl von Möller. They were married in Hydra, Greece by the mayor.[13] They have four children together.[3]

Holmes à Court and his wife have a 36-hectare off-grid farm in Daylesford, Victoria.[6]

Holmes à Court lives with his family in the Melbourne suburb of Hawthorn, Victoria.

References
  1. "About Us". Climate 200. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  2. Schmidt, Lucinda (16 November 2011). "Profile: Simon Holmes a Court". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
  3. Turner, Brook (29 October 2021). "Simon Holmes à Court: 'If it works, the payoff will be enormous'". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  4. "Economic, Education, Jobs and Skills Committee: Inquiry into community energy projects" (PDF). Parliament of Victoria. 30 May 2017. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  5. "Simon Holmes à Court's personal battle with Josh Frydenberg". 13 April 2022.
  6. "Simon Holmes à Court: 'If it works, the payoff will be enormous'". 29 October 2021.
  7. Long, Stephen (28 October 2019). "Clean, green and rich: Wealthy donors bankrolling politicians who support climate action". ABC News. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  8. https://www.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/media-watch-dog-simon-holmes-courts-qa-takeover/news-story/ac4845741f3e324b9a4c32c8ab7120ab
  9. https://www.news.com.au/national/meaning-of-crumb-maiden-smear-used-against-liberal-senator-explored/video/a3596216643fedb5bcfdca846a383793
  10. https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/climate-200-founder-simon-holmes-a-court-palmer-of-the-left-warren-mundine/news-story/49d3c2f475230f1cd82284dd7b99526a
  11. "Climate 200 founder could benefit from investments if independents are elected". 26 April 2022.
  12. "Holmes à Court attempting 'takeover': Falinski". 23 April 2022.
  13. "10 Aug 2003 - Simon & Katrina Holmes a Court ~ 19 June 1997 - Archived Website".
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