The Sauce: Crisis manager Megan Miller joins Police Commissioner’s media team
Who is Police Commissioner Karen Webb’s new media chief? Why are MPs moaning about the new parliament house canteen menu? And what’s causing unrest among Coalition MPs? The Sauce is here.
NSW
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Police Commissioner Karen Webb has finally snagged herself a new media adviser, with straight-talking crisis management specialist Megan Miller taking up the top job.
The appointment of the communications and media veteran to the executive adviser role follows a revolving door of advisers in the top office and NSW Police Media Unit.
Webb dismissed her media head Liz Deegan in March last year amid widespread criticism of Webb’s handling of an alleged double murder.
Deegan’s replacement – former journalist Steve Jackson – also left two weeks into a six-month contract, with NSW Police declaring the appointment had been ceased because the role needed to be fulfilled “free from external distractions”.
Questions about the appointment were raised after images of Jackson with an unnamed woman he had interviewed in 2019 began circulating around the media. While there was no sexual activity or any wrongdoing in the photos, Jackson – who produced Seven’s Spotlight interview with Bruce Lehrmann – was shown the door.
The government recently appointed Andrew “Twiggy” Forest’s former media chief Anthony Flannery as executive director of public affairs, including the NSW Police Media Unit.
Miller will report directly to Webb, while former Channel 7 chief-of-staff Andrew Frampton, who was given the vacant position of police media and public affairs director, will report to Flannery.
It will be the fourth commissioner for Miller, who has previously worked for former police commissioner Ken Moroney, NSW Ambulance Commissioner Dominic Morgan and the late NSW Corrective Services commissioner Ron Woodham.
To avoid a potential conflict of interest, the award-winning journalist — who would have given the commissioners of the day during her time in the media a solid roasting — has been forced to give up her role on the NSW Parole Board.
Miller was also the head of brand and communications Sydney Water.
‘NOT AN RSL’
A menu overhaul in the Parliament House cafe has sent meat-loving pollies into a blind rage.
In place of the usual pork stir fries and chicken parma were items such as “lentil soup”, “vegan burger”, “vegetarian burger” “grilled fish” and “roasted beetroot salad”.
According to one member of the cafe rebellion, the only “meat” option left on the revised menu appeared to be “hamburger and chips”.
The Sauce was told “The Greens” were behind the menu change.
Upper House MP Cate Faehrmann, who is not a vegetarian, confirmed she had contacted the catering department requesting some additional “healthier” options after weeks of being served up meat, creamy pastas and “sad salads”.
She defended the healthier offerings.
“People have been complaining about the food. I don’t think it’s changed since the ’70s,” Faehrmann said.
“The salads in the fridge are cold and tasteless. People now have commented about the healthier options.
“I know some of the blokes are unhappy, complaining they can’t get their bangers and mash. It’s not an RSL. Get your bangers and mash on Sunday at the pub. It’s ridiculous.”
QUESTION LEAK
Tensions within the NSW Coalition boiled over into state parliament last week.
The internal feud has been triggered by the decision by the Nats to run a candidate in the Liberal-held seat of Port Macquarie, forcing a damaging three-cornered contest.
Even though the Nats are doing their best to ruin their chances — the party preselected candidate Dr Warwick Yonge before dumping him days later — the Libs are still cranky that they’re running at all.
The tensions spilt into Question Time on Thursday, with our moles claiming some Nats were of the belief that some Libs were ... wait for it ... leaking to Labor!
The assumption was made after Premier Chris Minns apparently gave too quick an answer to a question Nationals leader Dugald Saunders had asked.
The Libs argued that it was an obvious question that Minns would have been ready for.
However, that does not explain the “let them go” text messages senior Lib members allegedly sent to their MPS, urging them not to interrupt Labor attacking Saunders.
We’re expecting another fiery week next week.
The by-election will be held on March 15.
HARASSMENT?
A “member” is the subject of a harassment complaint that has been lodged with the NSW Parliament Independent Complaints Officer (ICO)
Details of the complaint were contained in the latest ICO quarterly report tabled in state parliament last week.
The report, which covers the period between September to November last year, said the ICO had been contacted by a manager who had been concerned that a “team member” may have been the “subject of harassment”.
It said the employee concerned did not want the matter to be taken further, as they did not believe they had been harassed, but was “willing to have an anonymous report made by the manager”.
The report said the ICO was keeping a record of the matter “in case future similar issues arose”.
We’ll be watching.
STAFF SOLIDARITY
It was an emotional gathering of Minns government ministers, staff and members of the Jewish Board of Deputies in Parliament House on Wednesday.
Just hours earlier, the shocking video of two Sydney nurses engaged in a vile anti-Semitic rant had been made public.
As the Premier spoke, several ministers – Health Minister Ryan Park and Education Minister Prue Car – were seen comforting and hugging distraught staff.
A Jewish staff member described the gathering as highly emotional, with everyone asking “how can this happen?”.
“Jewish staffers were very emotional, myself included,” he said.
“While the Premier spoke, other ministers in the room were comforting staff.”
The message from the ministers was “they’re very sorry” and that they were “here for us”, he said.
Got some sauce? Contact linda.silmalis@news.com.au
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