Former Liberal leader reveals new role as marriage celebrant
The Sauce: Former Liberal leader Kerry Chikarovski’s unusual new role; why a parliamentary shooting fest was cancelled; and ’tis the season to be jolly in Canberra.
NSW
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Nervous but excited. That’s how law lecturer, former leader of the NSW Liberal Party, lobbyist and political commentator Kerry Chikarovski feels about her latest role as a marriage celebrant.
What started as a bit of a joke — the same-sex advocate was watching the historic legislation pass in the gallery of Parliament House when others sitting near her suggested she would be perfect for the role of marriage celebrant — was made a reality when close friends asked if she could marry them.
With one wedding under her belt since qualifying a year ago, Chikarovski will put her skills to the test again today when she officiates at the marriage of her daughter Lisa (former media adviser to then treasurer Joe Hockey) to Andrew Johnston (nephew of Liberal stalwart Philip Ruddock) in the Hunter Valley.
Among the VIP guests will be singer Kamahl, who is not down to belt out any tunes — although Chikarovski warned this would depend on how close he was to a mic, City of Sydney councillor Angela Vithoulkas, former senator John Williams and radio broadcaster
Steve Price.
Chikarovski said she was “extremely nervous”.
“I have kept this on the very quiet,” she told Sauce.
“I felt very strongly about same-sex marriage and when I started getting phone calls from friends asking if I would marry them, I decided to do it.
“This will officially be my second wedding and I am extremely nervous.”
In contrast, Lisa was “completely relaxed,” Chikarovski said.
“The only instruction I’ve had is to please not be too long. As everybody knows, we love to talk.”
SHOT DOWN
Gun-toting Nationals Senator Bridget McKenzie has been forced to cancel her annual shooting event.
As chair of the Parliamentary Friends of Shooting group, she has traditionally spread Christmas cheer by taking a busload of journalists to fire guns at clay targets in a wooded area outside Canberra.
But a scorching 34 degree day put an end to the event, which McKenzie hopes to reschedule. Nothing like the bang of a gun and the crack of the target to get you in the Christmas spirit.
PARTY TOWN
Speaking of Christmas spirit, The Sauce reckons late-night debates in parliament might be a little more “spirited” next week with a full calendar of Christmas parties scheduled in Canberra.
The hot tip for a lively night is the Nationals bash on Tuesday which, in the past, has delivered disco moves from Queenslander George Christensen and even a karaoke performance from former PM Tony Abbott.
Coalition staffers will hold their knees-up on Wednesday, with hopes someone will fill the mango daiquiri-shaped hole left by Indigenous Affairs minister Nigel Scullion.
Scott Morrison will also throw open the doors of The Lodge one night to the press gallery, who are hoping to sample a ScoMojitos or ScoMosas.
Labor caucus members and staff will gather on Thursday night, after parliament closes for 2019.
The Sauce couldn’t help but wonder how much taxpayers would spend on accommodation for the opposition to spend an extra night in Canberra for their Christmas do?
POWER SHIFT
A unity deal between the Liberal Left and Right factions was supposed to boost numbers for both on the powerful State Council when the annual election for positions were held last week.
Instead, it was Scott Morrison’s Centre Right faction that came out gloating after a breakaway group of moderates comprising Natalie Ward, David Begg and Kent Johns rejected the deal to back the Right, instead supporting an independent Left ticket.
The Left split delivered the centre at least one extra seat on the council, instead of losing four as had been anticipated.
A Centre Right source said the empowered position would enable the faction to exert greater influence at the next preselections.
Among those in danger include right-wing Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells, whom the source claimed had “no chance” of returning, while the future of Centre Right-backed Senator Jim Molan has been secured.
The new empowered Centre Right could also play a greater role in influencing the choice of candidate in Warringah — “if Mike Baird wants it, he’s got it” — and Bennelong “should John Alexander retire”, the source said.
“Finally, with ScoMo now focusing on extending his two-seat majority at the next federal poll, expect the Centre Right to be heavily focused on getting its own people in Parramatta, Greenway and Macquarie,” the source added.
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