Liberal WAGs’ Christmas dinner revolt cause headaches for Premier

THE SAUCE: Why did politicians’ WAGs force Premier Gladys Berejiklian to host three separate Christmas dinners for Liberal pollies this year?

It’s not easy being a dinner host during a pandemic.

With her own government’s restrictions putting caps on guest numbers, Premier Gladys Berejiklian has understandably been in a pickle over how to put on the annual Christmas Liberal parliamentary dinner for her team without breaching health guidelines.

Last year, the Premier hosted 40-odd ministers and MPs along with their partners at Aria Restaurant.

Trying to organise the ‘office Christmas party’ has been a trial for Premier Gladys Berejiklian. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Jeremy Piper

The Sauce understands the issue was even raised in the party room, with Tourism Minister Stuart Ayres suggesting it be declared a “corporate event” to legitimately allow for greater numbers.

Instead, the Premier decided to hold two separate dinners at different restaurants — the first to be held for 30 MPs at China Doll and the second lot of pollies to be accommodated at a dinner at Otto.

However, to ensure the cap was not breached, MPs were informed that no partners would be allowed.

Problem solved — or so the Premier thought.

One of the MPs’ dinners will be held at China Doll. Picture: John Appleyard

A second dinner will be hosted by Otto. Picture: Supplied

An apparent revolt by some of the ministerial “WAGs” — who, as The Sauce revealed last month, have their own WhatsApp group — over being left out forced the Premier to re-evaluate the situation again.

It can be revealed she has now agreed to putting on a third dinner at a yet-to-be-chosen venue at a restaurant at Woolloomooloo Wharf.

MPs were alerted to the additional dinner last week, with an email declaring the Premier had agreed to put on another dinner “so that we can also invite partners/spouses”.

A Liberal source said the decision came after “some of the WAGs” had complained about being snubbed, despite having barely seen their partners all year.

“Some of the WAGs had their noses out of joint as they had supported their partners all year and were now not even going to get to enjoy a dinner,” the source said.

And now for the argy-bargy over which dinner to be at.

COVID CONSPIRACY

Every now and then, a politician will stand up in parliament and tell us what they really think.

Last week, it was NSW Liberal MP Lou Amato.

While other MPs were busy addressing the State Budget on Wednesday, Amato stood up to ponder the “biggest questions”, such as whether COVID-19 was as “deadly as we have been led to believe” and were governments using the pandemic to “push a Marxist agenda?”

Lou Amato speaking in the Upper House. Picture: Brook Mitchell/Getty Images

“Recently, I heard dark whispers of a terrible Marxist plot against the West called The Great Reset,” he told parliament.

“Strangely, no mention of that plot has surfaced on free-to-air television.”

Amato went on to share how “dark whispers” spoke of a “great worldwide conspiracy” to be unleashed by the World Economic Forum, “which seeks to use COVID-19 as a means of implementing global Marxism”.

“Like most of us, I often wonder what the truth is,” Amato said.

KEEP DREAMIN’

A decade is a long time in politics.

So it is understandable that Tourism Minister Stuart Ayres has itchy feet.

At an anniversary gathering of Liberal lefties — sorry, moderates — in Parliament House last week, Ayres couldn’t help but make a gag about a possible promotion.

Tourism Minister Stuart Ayres predicts a big future … for himself. Picture: Justin Lloyd

With an audience of future leadership contenders, including Transport Minister Andrew “Bega” Constance, Planning Minister Rob Stokes, Attorney-General Mark Speakman and Energy and Environment Minister Matt “Mass Green” Kean, Ayres cracked a joke about Kean and himself “doing great things in the future”.

We’re not sure if the joke was too soon for Premier Gladys Berejiklian.

LABOR PAINS

The Labor pile-on continues out in the party’s western suburbs heartland.

Following the decision by Labor frontbencher Joel Fitzgibbon to move to the backbench, former ALP member and Cumberland City Council mayor Steve Christou has spoken out about his own decision to become an independent.

Former Cumberland City Council mayor Steve Christou. Picture: John Appleyard

Describing the party he quit last September year as being out of touch and “a breeding ground for overzealous environmental extremists”, Christou warned Labor was at risk of losing its heartland should it fail to change course.

Christou said Labor also no longer held the same family values it once had.

“I couldn’t agree more with Joel that Labor has lost touch with the working class and become a breeding ground for overzealous environmental extremists,” he said.

If there were more MPs in the Labor Party like Joel Fitzgibbon, the exodus may be stopped, Christou advised.

DOM’S ELVES

Treasurer Dominic Perrottet may be smiling ear-to-ear after a largely positive reception to his pandemic State Budget — but not all his colleagues are.

The Sauce spoke to one senior minister last week who groaned about how “Dom can get to play Santa” while his colleagues were left with having to deliver all the announced projects and by specified deadlines.

“We’re just his reindeers dragging the bloody sleigh,” the minister said.

G ot some sauce? Contact [e-mail]