Backroom Baz: Liberal Party sabotaging any chance of steadying the ship ahead of state election
The Liberal Party appears to now be sabotaging any chance of steadying the ship ahead of the election and frustrated members are fed up with the ongoing drama.
Victoria
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Is it really a line in the sand if you’re just back to square one? That’s the question being pondered by many Liberals this week.
A week ago, the party’s state president, Phil Davis, crowed about the ongoing saga between John Pesutto and Moira Deeming being over “once and for all” after the administrative committee approved the controversial $1.55m loan to get the former opposition leader out of his debt hole, help him pay the $2.3m he owed Mrs Deeming, and avoid bankruptcy. The deal also avoided the threat of a Hawthorn by-election.
It’s stunning that the prospect of a by-election in what should be a safe Liberal seat had caused so much angst among the party’s powerful, who hope to win 16 seats at next year’s election.
But Baz digresses. The loan deal is now being challenged in the Supreme Court, with Opposition Leader Brad Battin to be listed as a defendant, meaning that despite the line-in-the-sand moment, the party has ended up in exactly the same position it started – with a party member suing the leader.
And, of course, it’s not the outcome that matters but the damage a court process, the discovery of documents, and the evidence that is adduced that ultimately causes the most harm.
Time is the friend of politicians, but the wheels of justice move slowly. By eating their own, the Liberal Party appears to now be sabotaging any chance of steadying the ship ahead of the election.
“My fearless prediction is we’ll be in a series of court cases right up until the election,” a senior Liberal said.
Baz suspects that might be right. Meanwhile, frustrated members are said to be fed up with the ongoing dramas.
Eye-watering cost to light up Parliament House
In the age of symbolic politics, lighting up buildings has become the go-to gesture for governments seeking to show respect, solidarity, or remembrance. Whether it’s the colours of a national flag projected onto a parliament’s facade after a tragedy abroad, or iconic landmarks glowing gold, pink, or rainbow to mark awareness days, illumination has become a kind of civic emoji — instant, eye-catching, and ultimately ephemeral. And because it happens so often, the Victorian parliament is investing in permanent lights they can turn on with the flick of a switch. No longer will the poor maintenance men be sent out to set up lights at the front of parliament at all hours. But at what cost? $5.7m, according to data given to the Public Accounts and Estimates Committee probing the budget. It includes funds held to manage risks as well as contingency funds, too.
Annual Kokoda trek back again
It’s back! The annual Kokoda trek by state MPs is on again this week – the fifth time it has been undertaken.
Labor MP Kathleen Matthews-Ward is braving it among five Nationals – camp leader Tim Bull, former party leader Peter Walsh, deputy leader Emma Kealy, Jade Benham and Martin Cameron – along with 32 year 11 students from across the state.
But there’s not a Liberal in sight this year.
Baz hears Nick McGowan had put his hat in the ring but pulled out due to other commitments. Maybe it was the experience of his party room colleague Wayne Farnham that deterred his party colleagues.
The Narracan MP tore his quad muscle in the first 20 minutes of the 138km trek last year, battling on for another 45km before tapping out.
Despite the painful experience and having to be choppered out, Farnham has pledged to give it another shot next year.
And Baz will be holding him to it!
Premier’s a gun on the sporting arena – now to fix the rest of the state
It’s every media adviser’s worst nightmare: a sporting media call where the minister they’re paid to babysit, and make look good, is handed a ball. Think John Howard’s epic bowling fail or Peter Dutton making a cameraman bleed while kicking a footy.
Co-ordination doesn’t seem to come naturally to most politicians. But what some lack, Premier Jacinta Allan has in spades, and likes to keep reminding us.
Take her efforts throwing an American football on the MCG with LA Rams stars Kobie Turner and Steve Avila. Her first toss of the pigskin impressed Avila no end.
Not so for a clearly nervous Steve Dimopoulos – Victoria’s Sports Minister – who needed a few pointers on how to hold the ball.
It’s not the first time Allan has impressed on the sporting field.
Baz has been on hand to witness her shoot hoops on more than one occasion. Nothing but net. Now, if only she could fix the roads, health system and economy with such style.
Which billion-dollar project will open first?
Infrastructure nerds have been salivating at a double ribbon-cutting on mega projects this year.
The $15bn Metro Tunnel and the $10bn West Gate Tunnel are inching towards the finish line, with both contracted to open in 2025. The question is, which one will open first? For those backing Metro to be first, they would have welcomed a recent call-out to Department of Transport public servants to ditch the desk for a day to take part in evacuation drills at new stations.
Notably, the offer is only on the table for Arden and Parkville, which are fully fitted out and have been going through testing for months.
Metro’s two CBD stations at Town Hall and State Library are yet to be handed over to operators. Despite this, some of Baz’s well-placed spies suggest the money is still on Metro opening ahead of the West Gate Tunnel.
Guess who?
Which senior Liberal is known to have a potty mouth to rival that of Donald Trump?
Overheard
“Not bad, Carlton Draught.” Premier Jacinta Allan proves she’s one of the people after pouring a pot while spruiking payroll tax cuts for small business.
Originally published as Backroom Baz: Liberal Party sabotaging any chance of steadying the ship ahead of state election
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