Backroom Baz: Liberal MP Wayne Farnham rescues two drowning tourists while “seven beers deep” on holiday

What do you get when you cross a pizza, about seven beers, and a backbench MP on holidays in Thailand? A double lifesaver, that’s what.

Liberal MP Wayne Farnham saved two lives during a holiday in Thailand.

What do you get when you cross a pizza, about seven beers, and a backbench MP on holidays in Thailand? A double lifesaver, that’s what.

News made its way to Baz this week that Liberal MP Wayne Farnham quietly saved the lives of two Indian tourists who found themselves in deep water at his Phuket hotel last week. As Farnham tells it he was about seven beers in, chowing down on some pizza while lounging by the pool when he noticed the two 20-something-year olds in trouble and jumped to action.

“David Hasselhoff I’m not, but I managed to get them to safety,” he said, downplaying the heroic effort. Farnham said the women had waded into waters beyond their abilities and instead of calmly making their way back to the shallow end, panicked, and started inadvertently drowning each other.

Now, saving one life would be enough for anyone’s lifetime, but two in one go is a decent feat. Baz wonders whether the rejuvenated Farnham, back from holiday, has it in him to save the sinking ship that is his Victorian Liberal Party.

A hero he may be, but miracle worker? Maybe not. In any event, awesome effort, Wayne.

Anti-gas warrior scores a win

The government’s certified anti-gas warrior, Lily D’Ambrosio, has for years been on a renewables crusade that has put her at odds with energy ministers nationwide.

It’s also put her at odds with her own Caucus colleagues and Premier Jacinta Allan who has in recent months slowly wound back some of her energy minister’s more controversial policy positions in what has been billed privately as a one-way ticket from ideology to common sense.

Baz spotted this electric number being pushed around outside the Premier's offices at Treasury Place last week.

But there’s one fight D’Ambrosio has won: gone are the noisy, polluting petrol used to keep the grass around government buildings picture perfect.

Baz spotted this electric number being pushed around outside the Premier’s offices at Treasury Place last week, the silent efforts of the groundskeeper going almost completely unnoticed. How very modern.

Libs take their social media to unprecedented heights

They say imitation is the best form of flattery. Enter Brad Battin’s Liberals, who have taken their social media to unprecedented heights in recent week (all right, it was a pretty low bar) but the change hasn’t gone unnoticed.

Opposition Leader Brad Battin. Picture: Nadir Kinani

In the shadow of Jacinta Allan recruiting Queensland social media guru Deon Savage – who almost immediately transformed the Premier’s online presence into an election contending machine – the Victorian Liberals have also looked to Queensland for help.

Baz’s spies say digital presence was a key focus of talks between Opposition Leader Brad Battin and Queensland Premier David Crisafulli when the pair met to talk strategy recently, with Crisafulli’s team helpfully combing through Battin’s online profiles to offer some pointers.

Pesutto falls victim to identity theft

Who’d want to be John Pesutto? That’s the question on Baz’s mind after it was revealed this week the former Opposition Leader and renown defamer had been the victim of identity theft.

In a highly unsophisticated scam, a swindler posing as Pesutto on social media has been messaging Liberal members promoting a “special program for those who need help paying bills.

John Pesutto has been the victim of an identity theft. Picture: Nadir Kinani

“I received $90,000 when I applied for it and you don’t have to pay it back,” the scammer claims.

If that didn’t give it away, maybe it was fake John’s response to be asked how he was. “I’m blessed and highly favored, Praised be to God ……. I’m alive enjoying every min.”

Inside the push to sack Dan

As anger grew about Melbourne’s world-record lockdown, so too did public calls for the governor to intervene and sack Daniel Andrews, The Source revealed this week.

Read all about it here. We also broke the news of Labor ministers soaking up the European summer. Read out all their jaunt here.

Originally published as Backroom Baz: Liberal MP Wayne Farnham rescues two drowning tourists while “seven beers deep” on holiday