Journalist, former lord mayor and one-time ABC Learning Centres director Sallyanne Atkinson is back. Well, back in business and supporting some of her Tory mates on the way through.

She's teaming up with a key LNP figure, Ted O'Brien, of the famous Defiance Mills family, to open the Brisbane office of national government relations firm Barton Deakin, which is openly aligned with the LNP.  

And why? Well, the move has been in response to demand from the business sector in the lead-up to the next election. No doubt in part because there is a growing conviction in the business community that almost despite themselves, the LNP may just get elected.