Off the Record: The Lib backroom war, the Godfather goes to LA, French diplomacy and a pitched soccer battle

In this week’s Off the Record, we reveal the runners and riders for a plum Liberal party post amid a bitter factional war. There are some old ghosts haunting the new talent.

The bitter factional war engulfing South Australian Liberal Party is heading for a crescendo at next month’s state council annual general meeting.

A range of party officials have been sounded out to run for the honorary but powerful role of state president, or party boss, to replace Legh Davis, who is standing down after two terms.

Liberal Rowan Mumford with his wife Jessica and children Beau, 5, Jai, 3, Carter, 7, Tate, 1 and Noah, 9, during the March state election. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

Former Upper House MP Legh Davis is standing down from the Liberal party president’s role after two terms. Picture: Matt Loxton

Off the Record hears aspiring MP Rowan Mumford, who was thumped by turncoat Lib, speaker Dan Cregan in the Adelaide Hills seat of Kavel, is shaping as favourite.

Senior party sources say the “young” small businessman, and father of five, crucially enjoys widespread support of both moderate and his own conservative faction.

David Speirs, former state member for Davenport, Steve Murray, and then-premier Steven Marshall in February. Picture Dean Martin

Mr Mumford, who is believed to be the choice of leader David Speirs, declined to comment.

He will face a challenge from party stalwart, moderate Rose Miller.

Former federal MP Trish Worth and just-retired treasurer Rob Lucas, have each ruled out a tilt, as has ex-deputy premier Dan van Holst Pellekaan.

SA politician Trish Worth receiving kiss from supporters Angus Bristow and Jamie Briggs back during the 2001 federal election.

Former treasurer Rob Lucas holding fake Labor money during a presser about election spending. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brenton Edwards

Ms Worth, who served under prime minister John Howard, said she was supporting younger generations while Mr Lucas, an Upper House MP for 40 years, is enjoying a break, including spending time as an “assistant” babysitter.

The role of president has a casting vote on the powerful state executive, which sets preselections and wider strategy.

Former SA party president John Olsen at the South Australian Liberal Party annual general meeting in August, 2019. Picture: Kelly Barnes

Former deputy premier Vickie Chapman in the lower house in Parliament House with former speaker Josh Teague. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Naomi Jellicoe

Senator Cory Bernardi delivering his valedictory speech in the senate chamber at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture Kym Smith

Former foreign minister Alexander Downer. Picture: Supplied.

Previous state presidents have included former premier John Olsen, deputy premier Vickie Chapman, MPs Alexander Downer, Robert Lawson and Steve Murray as well as senators Cory Bernardi and Grant Chapman.

DUSTING OFF THE DANCE SHOES

It is a favourite time of the year here at Off the Record.

And after a two-year hiatus thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Mid Winter Ball, this year backed by naming rights sponsor Commercial and General, is returning next month.

With an influx of new sponsors – especially Adrian Tembel’s law firm Thomson Geer – the state’s movers and shakers in politics, business and media will be able to let loose on Friday, September 16 at Adelaide Oval.

Former defence minister Christopher Pyne, Thomson Geer national chief executive Adrian Tembel, Internode founder and Base 64 owner Simon Hackett and state parliamentary speaker Vincent Tarzia, at Adrian Tembel's 50th birthday at East End Cellars. Picture: supplied

Hosted by the ABC’s Rory McClaren and Seven’s Andrea Nicolas, the ball will also feature the wit of Premier Peter Malinauskas and Opposition Leader David Speirs.

Mind you, some of the Liberals may not want to party too hard. The aforementioned state council annual general meeting will be held the day after.

FRENCH DIPLOMACY

A moving ceremony was held in northern France last month, which has gone a little way to restoring French relationships.

SA Agent General, former Liberal Upper House MP, David Ridgway, joined former Labor MP, Jane Lomax-Smith, at Dernancourt, 164km north of Paris.

SA Agent General David Ridgway and former Labor MP Jane Lomax-Smith attend a ceremony in Dernancourt, France, during which soil was taken from a World War I battlefield for an Adelaide memorial. Picture: supplied

Local schoolchildren dug soil from the World War 1 frontline, for a war memorial being erected along the River Torrens Linear Park in the northeastern suburb which bears the same name.

The Mayor of Dernancourt, Lionel Lamotte, has given the battlefield soil to South Australia.

SA Agent General David Ridgway and former Labor MP Jane Lomax-Smith at the ceremony in Dernancourt, France, during which soil was taken from a First World War battlefield for an Adelaide memorial. Picture: supplied

Mr Ridgway represented the state government and has helped organise the soil to be transported by diplomatic routes.

“It was a very moving ceremony,” he said.

Ms Lomax-Smith, who was in London on business, was guest after she had been minister in 2006 during the 90th anniversary of the battle of the Somme.

David Ridgway watches as a child from Dernancourt, France, takes soil to be sent to Dernancourt in South Australia. Picture: supplied

Governor, Frances Adamson, will later this month unveil the memorial, which officials say “commemorates one of the most decisive battles of World War I, the subsequent naming of the suburb of Dernancourt, and the strong relationship that exists between Australia and France”.

HOGES AND THE GODFATHER

Who better for still-new Tourism Minister Don Farrell to catch up with than comedy legend Paul Hogan who became the face of Australia with his “throw another shrimp on the barbie’’ adverts in the 1980s.

Farrell met with Crococile Dundee himself at his Los Angeles home to present Tourism Australia’s inaugural Legend of Australia award.

“Paul Hogan’s contribution to Australian tourism is legendary and enduring,’’ Farrell wrote on Facebook. “Thank you for your invaluable and iconic work promoting Australia to the rest of the world.’’

Tourism Minister Don Farrell meets comedy legend Paul Hogan: Source Facebook.

LET THE BATTLE COMMENCE

There’s no doubt the on-field clash next week between Adelaide United and Adelaide City in the Australia Cup will be a spicy affair. Adelaide City were giants of the old National Soccer League but were essentially replaced by Adelaide United in the formation of the A-League. City still has dreams of again becoming a player on the national stage.

But there could be even more friction in the corporate areas than on the pitch, with the respective chairmen of each club, shall we say, not that keen on each other.

Adelaide City’s chairman is Greg Griffin. Griffin, a well-known lawyer about town has been making life difficult for the Adelaide Crows and the AFL this week as the fallout from that Gold Coast camp rumbles on, but is also a past owner and chairman of Adelaide United.

Griffin was part of a consortium that included business tycoon Robert Gerrard who sold the Reds in 2018 to a group headed up by Piet van der Pol. There are other owners, believed to be Dutch businessmen Cor and Jac Adriaanse, but that has never been confirmed.

Piet van der Pol is current chairman of Adelaide United, but the Dutch crew are in the process of selling the club to property developer Ross Pelligra, although negotiations have been lengthy and are still continuing. Pelligra himself has been busy in the football world, recently buying Italian club Calcio Catania.

Pelligra has also used the legal services of Griffin in the past. Unfortunately, Pelligra is still overseas and won’t be able to make the game. He could have been a useful peacemaker between City’s Griffin and United’s van der Pol.

Former Adelaide United chairman Greg Griffin.

Current Adelaide United chairman Piet van der Pol. Picture SARAH REED