The Sauce: Partying pollies claim Labor MPs breaking the ‘booze ban’ in Whip’s office

Labor MPs have been accused of breaking their leader’s booze ban in Government Whip Nat Smith’s office, but Smith’s lips are sealed: ‘My office is like the Vatican, separate from the state.’ Don’t miss The Sauce.

Labor MPs appear to be defying the booze ban if Coalition whispers are true — with more than a couple allegedly taking advantage of the hospitality offered in the NSW Whip’s office.

Government Whip Nat Smith would not confirm the rumours. “My office is like the Vatican, separate from the state,” he said, adding: “What happens in the Whip’s office, stays in the Whip’s office.”

However, one MP who has enjoyed some time in that office told The Sauce they had sighted “those opposite” holding glasses of “12-year-old apple juice on the rocks”.

We have learned the Whip’s office is often used as a refuge of sorts for MPs during long sitting nights, with the pollies often ripping in to the microwaved popcorn that Smith makes available, along with the odd stiff drink.

It was certainly the place to be after Premier Dominic Perrottet’s land tax bill was introduced into the parliament, with exhausted Coalition MPs filing in to the office for a debrief, which quickly turned into a full-blown singalong.

Government Whip and Wollondilly MP Nat Smith. Picture: AAP

Hospitality Minister Kevin Anderson is understood to have rocked up with his guitar, while Skills and Training Minister Alister Henskens and Treasurer Matt Kean were among the Coalition MPs who contributed vocals.

Labor Leader Chris Minns has instituted a booze ban for his MPs. Picture: Toby Zerna

The Sauce was told Opposition Deputy Leader Yasmin Catley “popped in”, although is understood not to have stayed to enjoy the hospitality.

As for the tunes, a source familiar with the impromptu event said the song list covered “The Beatles, American Pie and Bob Dylan”.

“The G&Ts were flowing, it was a great night,” an attendee recalled.

Labor Leader Chris Minns imposed a booze ban on his MPs after Labor MP Anna Watson was accused of getting “paralytically drunk” in parliament by One Nation MP Mark Latham during estimates.

In a statement, Ms Watson said she “did turn to alcohol to deal with the stress … during a particularly difficult period of my life where a close family member was experiencing a personal crisis”.

UNDER THE BUS

Even top public servants gossip — in this case, the state’s highly-paid overseas trade commissioners.

Text messages exchanged between UK agent-general Stephen Cartwright and three other trade commissioners within a secret WhatsApp group called the “Four Amigos” — yes, that’s what they call themselves — during the Barilaro trade fiasco hearings have revealed what they were really thinking.

x x x x x x x

In the case of Cartwright — who ended up being dragged in to the inquiry himself — it’s clear there isn’t much love lost between himself and his now-sacked boss, former Department of Enterprise, Investment and Trade chief executive officer Amy Brown.

In an August 3 text exchange obtained by The Sauce, Cartwright declared: “Not much room left under the bus after Amy’s testimony today”, ending the message with a laughing emoji.

The group — which also includes India and Middle East trade commissioner Vish Padmanabhan, North Asia trade commissioner Michael Newman and Association of Southeast Asian trade commissioner Andrew Parker — had been chatting about who may replace Stuart Ayres after his resignation as the trade and investment minister.

The four trade commissioners discussing the resignation of Stuart Ayres after the Barilaro saga in a WhatsApp group called ‘4 Amigos’.

Padmanabhan had opened the discussion with praise for Ayres.

“I wonder who the replacement for Ayres is going to be?” he wrote.

“He understood the India storey (sic) and convinced the Premier to visit India.”

Cartwright correctly suggested Skills and Training Minister Alister Henskens might be chosen: “Yes — state of flux at the moment — might be Henkens (sic) but could depend on who gets Deputy Leader.”

The text exchange follows earlier revelations of emails Cartwright had sent on August 4 – the days after the WhatsApp exchange – complaining about how he had now been dragged into the fiasco.

The hearings had been focusing on how Bara had been appointed, when attention turned to the other trade commissioners, including the $600,000 salary negotiated for Cartwright.

Brown had revealed how the contract negotiations for the London role had been difficult, declaring how it was “not unusual for people to throw their toys out of the pram and threaten to go to the minister”.

In an email to senior public servants, Cartwright described the allegation as “pure fabrication”.

MP ‘CASTRATED’

After being accused by Nationals leader Paul Toole in state parliament of turning up to a recent AgDay breakfast solely for the “free food and drink”, Coogee MP Marjorie O’Neill let fly.

“Point of order: I actually own a farm,” the Labor MP declared.

“I have grown up in the country and I know how to muster cattle.

“If the Deputy Premier wants me to show him how to castrate them, I can do that as well.”

Coogee MP Marjorie O’Neill has some hidden talents. Picture: AAP

But the putdown was short-lived, with Coalition operatives immediately seizing on O’Neill’s website, where she describes herself as “a fifth-generation Bronte girl” who has “always lived in the Coogee electorate”.

Huh?

Upon firing off a “please explain” to Labor, The Sauce was pointed to O’Neill’s maiden speech, where she declared she had spent “some time during my life” on the family farm in Bannister “not too far from Crookwell”.

“I have done fencing, I have planted trees, and I have mustered, tagged and castrated cattle,” she says, while also noting that she had attended primary school at St Charles Waverley and high school at St Vincent’s College in Potts Point.

DRAMAS APLENTY

A complaint has been lodged with the NSW Liberal Party office about claims factional powerbrokers are forcing members to reveal how they are voting in preselections.

The Sauce has obtained correspondence from a party member in the seat of Davidson in Sydney’s north, where Roads Minister Natalie Ward and her chief rival Matt Cross will vie for preselection on Monday.

In the email to NSW Liberal state director Chris Stone and party president Maria Kovacic, it is alleged that the members on the seat selection committee “have been requested by others to show and share the vote they will cast”.

The email notes that under the old method of voting, members used to cast their votes in the same way voters did — a folded paper in a booth.

Under the new system, selectors use a phone app, with the member claiming they had been asked to “screenshot” their votes — a move that was in breach of the Liberal Party of Australia (NSW Division) Constitution, the member wrote.

“These are very serious claims,” the email said.

“It has the potential of this selection (and other selections) of being open to a legal challenge.”

The battle for Davidson has been another preselection headache for the Liberals, given this was Ward’s opportunity to move from the Upper to the Lower House.

Ward is also first in line for a promotion to either health or transport should Premier Dominic Perrottet rip the Band-Aid off and conduct a reshuffle.

However, the party was clearly not counting on the strong support Cross was to receive, although a Ward backer late on Saturday claimed the latest numbers were in the minister’s favour.

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Originally published as The Sauce: Partying pollies claim Labor MPs breaking the ‘booze ban’ in Whip’s office