Mike Baird pulls out of election coverage as Barnaby Joyce opts in
Former premier Mike Baird was expected to be a star panellist on Channel 9’s election night coverage but won’t be gracing our TV screens next weekend after his employer took action.
NSW
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He was expected to be a star panellist on Channel 9’s election night coverage but former NSW premier Mike Baird won’t be gracing our TV screens next weekend.
The Sauce understands the ex-politician’s employer, NAB, wasn’t keen on their high-ranking banking executive joining the line-up on the back of its recent woes.
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Meanwhile, rival Channel 7 has secured the colourful services of Barnaby Joyce.
Not shy of the spotlight, the former deputy prime minister will undoubtedly not hold back on a night when his state colleagues are set for a tough time at the ballot box.
Anything can happen when Barnaby’s around, which is just what TV executives will be hoping for.
TOO MUCH CONGESTION
It’s definitely been a slow crawl to election day and now Unions NSW will target drivers crawling along Sydney motorways. From today, a new mobile billboard will be unveiled, aimed at frustrated motorists on congested roads.
The union’s new advertisement reads: “Not glad about being stuck in traffic? Western Sydney is becoming overdeveloped and congested. And Gladys is doing nothing about.”
With public transport and roads a key issue at the ballot box, Unions NSW secretary Mark Morey said: “The Liberals have failed to cut the ribbon on any major piece of infrastructure in eight years.”
At least the sign will be something to look at during the long drive home.
THAT’S A WRAP
Fresh from launching the state election campaign of Better Regulation Minister Matt Kean, 2GB talkback host Alan Jones is set to headline a wrap party for Corrections Minister David Elliott.
The pair, who rubbed shoulders during the No Republic campaign in the late ’90s, will reunite at the Tattersalls Club in the city to mark the end of the campaign.
Despite facing five contenders, Elliott is set to retain the northwestern Sydney seat, which he holds with a comfortable 21.8 per cent margin.
“I chose to have a wrap party as they say politics is basically show business for ugly people,” he said.
SOME MOTHERS DO ‘AVE ‘EM
Sauce was overrun with phone calls from our elected representatives after a recent item about one MP who unwittingly and separately asked out both a mother and daughter, only to be knocked back.
To be clear: no, we won’t ever reveal the propositioning pollie. But we do have an update: we’re reliably informed the MP successfully used the same trick many years before.
GO WEST
For the federal Liberal Party, the Western Sydney seat of Lindsay could be one of very few it might actually pick up at the election.
This might explain why Prime Minister Scott Morrison has made the trek to the home of Howard’s battlers three times this month and the Sauce understands more trips are in the pipeline.
The PM even mentioned Penrith during question time several weeks ago when he spoke about boats and border protection — a dominant issue in the area.
“Well outside this bubble here, whether it’s out in Penrith or up in Townsville or over in Bunbury, they know one thing, and that is the Labor Party cannot be trusted on border protection.” We imagine Lindsay voters will be hearing a lot more of this line.
BY JINGO, BY CRIKEY
When Nine scribe Nick O’Malley tried to attend a NSW ALP gala dinner at the Revesby Workers Club last week, he was miffed to be marched to his car by security.
O’Malley, who had been given the ticket by Crikey’s Stephen Mayne, immediately took to Twitter to complain: “Just tried to enter @NSWLabor’s gala dinner with a ticket purchased by
@MayneReport and was marched to my car by security.”
A Labor staffer soon called O’Malley to point out a possible reason.
Prior to Mayne handing over his ticket, the anti-gambling activist had posted a tweet, describing the club as “an appalling pokie den”.
“I don’t know if they thought he was Mayne or the fact it was Mayne’s ticket, but it was their decision to turn him away,” a Labor source said.
INS AND OUTS
With two departing ministers — Pru Goward and Troy Grant — and Sports Minister Stuart Ayres under siege in Penrith — speculation has already begun on how Cabinet will look should voters return the Coalition to government.
Environment Minister Gabrielle Upton is set to be dumped, despite her expected return as member for Vaucluse, as will Disability Services Minister Ray Williams.
Treasurer Dom Perrottet, who should comfortably hold his seat of Epping, is tipped to stay on as Treasurer, although Finance Minister Victor Dominello may have a challenger for his portfolio.
The Sauce understands Corrections Minister David Elliott is keen to move to an economics portfolio such as Finance, having chaired the lower house economic development committee.
There is talk Planning Minister Anthony Roberts could be moved to Police, paving the way for Education Minister Rob Stokes to return to his dream portfolio.
Better Regulation Minister Matt Kean is also expected to be promoted, as is parliamentary secretary Scott Farlow, while Ayres may be moved on having done the hard work in Sport.
Over in the ALP camp, word is Linda Voltz will leave Sport to make way for former Paralympian Liesl Tesch should voters install a Labor government.
Got some Sauce? Contact linda.silmalis@news.com.au, miranda.wood@news.com.au, or annika.smethurst@news.com.au
Originally published as Mike Baird pulls out of election coverage as Barnaby Joyce opts in
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