How Aspen Medical got 'paid access' to politicians before it made more than $1 billion in the pandemic

The former chairman and co-founder of Aspen Medical has revealed how the company obtained access to senior ranks of the Coalition government by participating in political fundraising and appointing a former Liberal cabinet minister to its board. Andrew Walker – who quit Aspen in 2019 and is now involved in litigation with the company's owner – has told Four Corners that former Liberal minister Michael Wooldridge introduced him to Greg Hunt, and arranged "paid access" to a budget dinner with the Health Minister. A spokesman for Mr Hunt told Four Corners, "we are not aware of, nor have any record of, any lobbying by Dr Wooldridge on behalf of Aspen Medical in relation to any procurement". "It was a very rocky marriage from day one and it never improved," said Patrick Castles, a former Aspen Medical executive in charge of the contract, who now works for Andrew Walker's rival firm. Aspen Medical executive Patrick Castles says the company's standing with Defence was "rocky". "