Off the Record: Corey Wingard in post-election Facebook spray, and is Marshall considering a move?
In Off the Record this week, Corey Wingard cuts loose on Facebook, Steven Marshall goes to Canberra and Sandy Verschoor plays a joke.
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In Off the Record this weeks, ousted ex-Liberal cabinet minister Corey Wingard has a huge spray on Facebook after losing his seat at people who attacked his family — and the Electoral Commission – while Mr Marshall goes to Canberra.
Corey Whingegard
Defeated former Liberal transport minister Corey Wingard hasn’t been interested in talking to the media about his loss to Labor’s Sarah Andrews, taking instead to Facebook.
The former television sports reporter began a lengthy post this week by wishing Andrews “all the best” in the seat of Gibson before making a thinly veiled dig.
“I look forward to seeing her move into our local community so she can meet all the wonderful people and community groups that make the electorate of Gibson such a special place,” he wrote.
Wingard then spent several hundred words extolling the various big projects he oversaw while in cabinet – including the ill-fated Hove railway crossing – before launching into his political opponents.
“To those who shared their disgust at the attacks on me and my family on election day, I thank you for your support,” he said.
“Politics is often described as a dirty game but the harassment and targeted personal attacks on me were as low as you get and those responsible from the Labor Party and the unions will have to live with themselves and I’ll allow you to judge them as you see fit.”
Wingard then unleashed on the Electoral Commision, blasting it for “forcing” voters to “stand in the scorching heat on election day for more than an hour at many booth locations across my electorate”.
“It was not good enough and should never, ever happen again,” he thundered.
“I was very proud that my family and broader team stepped up and did everything possible (when the Electoral Commission didn’t) to help people with water, sunscreen and care for the elderly while it was noted others just stood on and watched.”
But Wingard saved his biggest serve for those who he claims “constantly attacked” him.
“From my daughter being called ‘Liberal scum’ when she was in Grade 6 at Paringa Park Primary School to the continued attacks on me that were constantly proven to be false, I can’t thank you enough for your support.”
Wingard ended up by returning to Andrews, saying he hoped she “expands on my legacy and makes our community even better again”.
Marshall’s moves
Former premier Steven Marshall cut a lonely figure waiting for a taxi – instead of a government car – outside Canberra Airport on Monday, having just flown economy class from Adelaide.
When he conceded defeat on state election night, Mr Marshall declared he was looking forward to spending more time on The Parade.
But it seems he has done anything but.
Tongues are wagging among political insiders, who say Mr Marshall has been seen outside of SA more than in it since his crushing election defeat on March 19, when he almost lost his own seat of Dunstan to boot.
Late on budget night this week, he was seen hobnobbing with close ally Christopher Pyne and Queensland Nationals MP Andrew Laming at a heaving Hotel Realm – a hotspot for Canberra’s elite.
It was at that same venue he was spotted lunching with unidentified foreign ambassadors earlier in the day. Some Liberal insiders speculated he was “spruiking” his credentials.
He also made appearances at a swanky banquet at Parliament House, and on Monday evening, a dinner commemorating 70 years of the ANZUS treaty, chatting with Defence Secretary Greg Moriarty, former prime minister John Howard and Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne.
Marshall also was seen at the Qantas Chairman’s Lounge at Sydney Airport last Friday.
Speculation is running white-hot about what the former premier will do next.
Despite his election loss, some senior Liberals have speculated that Marshall may make a bold reincarnation in two years’ time.
Some have, however, speculated an overseas diplomatic posting to a place such as San Francisco, home to Silicon Valley and his favourite hi-tech companies.
Contacted by Off the Record, Marshall said he was “still 100 per cent committed to South Australia achieving its full potentials, especially in regards to defence, space and cyber.”
Legal hurdle
Oakbank Racing Club must be hoping this month’s Easter carnival, the first in its 146-year history without the iconic Great Eastern Steeplechase, is an absolute sellout.
Its legal bill fighting a challenge by three life members against its decision to back the end of jumps racing is escalating by the day.
Costs already have been awarded to club stalwart Frances Nelson QC for having to take its committee to the District Court to get access to its records.
Now Ms Nelson, former club chairman John Glatz and retired Supreme Court and Federal Court judge John von Doussa have spent several weeks in the Supreme Court trying to have the committee hold an annual general meeting.
Appearing for the trio at several procedural hearings has been highly regarded Adelaide barrister Dick Whitington QC, who has been instructed by solicitor Greg Griffin.
The pair’s opponents have been barristers Brendon RobertsQC and Mark HoffmanQC, who have been taking their instructions from solicitor Matt Selley.
Selley is regarded as one of the best civil litigators in the country while Griffin is renowned as a tenacious legal pugilist.
The pair have been going head to toe, preparing a growing stack of affidavits and other evidentiary material for Whitington and now Hoffman, easily two of the state’s best – and most expensive – legal minds.
With a potential two-day trial looming in May, the total bill is not going to be cheap for either side.
Pigeon pie
To end on a lighter note, Off the Record thanks Sandy Verschoor for brightening things up with a clever April Fool’s Day post on her Facebook page.
The Lord Mayor is known to be a huge fan of the metallic pigeon installed last year by Adelaide City Council on Gawler Place, near Rundle Mall.
So followers could be excused for believing Verschoor was serious when she posted how she had made “an executive decision” to install more of the sculptures across the CBD.
“I have made the executive decision that what this city really needs is more pigeons!” she exclaimed.
“And so, we are going to install TEN more Pigeons around the city and create a flock to celebrate Adelaide’s favourite feathered friend.”
Verschoor then invited people to suggest potential locations for the avian artworks.
It wasn’t until readers followed Verschoor’s instructions to swipe on her attached pictures that the penny dropped.
One of the mocked up photographs showed a giant steel pigeon in the middle of an Adelaide Central Market aisle.
Well played Sandy!
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