Matt Kean’s teenage love threat by fiance turned him away from Labor

Energy and Environment Minister Matt Kean reveals how he almost join the Labor Party, before being wooed to the other side by his now fiance who he proposed to on a trip to the Blue Mountains recently. READ MORE SAUCE STORIES.

• Former politician faces up to his future
• Bishop leaves politics, doubles pay packet

They met as teenagers after being introduced by a mate at a Sydney pub.

Two decades and a rekindled romance later, Energy and Environment Minister Matt Kean is now engaged to his “first love” Wendy Quinn, proposing to the government psychologist on trip to Blue Mountains National Park.

Speaking to The Sauce, the Hornsby MP revealed how it was a threat by his now fiancee, who was a member of the Ryde Young Liberals, that led him to join the Liberal Party.

Energy and Environment Minister Matt Kean proposed to his childhood sweetheart Wendy Quinn on a recent trip.

“I was 19 and working as a cadet at PricewaterhouseCoopers and she was 18 and studying at uni when we were introduced at the Bayview Hotel in Gladesville,” he said.

“We began dating. An old teacher at Riverview — Mr Turner — was trying to get me to join the Labor Party and set-up a meeting with the local MP John Watkins. But Wendy said she would never speak to me again if I did. I ended up joining the Hornsby branch.”

While the pair went their separate ways — Quinn married and had two children — they remained friends, Mr Kean said.

After the March state election, they crossed paths and had a coffee, only to discover that both were single. “She is a beautiful woman and a great mum,” he said. “It just felt right.”

HOLY CANNOLI

After an ungraceful stack in front of schoolchildren during a game of soccer a few weeks ago (pointed leather shoes were apparently to blame), Sports Minister John Sidoti was keen to win back the respect of his constituents, especially his fellow Italian Australians.

The opportunity for redemption arose at the annual Italian Street Festival “Ferragosto” in Five Dock last Sunday when the Drummoyne MP was invited to take part in a cannoli eating competition.

Sports Minister John Sidoti didn’t hold back as he devoured a number of cannoli during a competition.

And his efforts saw him take out the first prize.

Despite the fried pastry dough presented before the Berejiklian government minister measuring “more than 20cm lengthwise and 10cm wide”, Sidoti failed to blink — or breath — as he seemingly inhaled the giant ricotta-filled delicacy to take home first prize.

According to a source close to the minister, Sidoti was less enthusiastic later that day when he turned up to a Roosters match.

“It’s fair to say he didn’t eat anything,” the source said.

STAR POWER

Things are heating up for the State Government to approve the controversial $530 million hotel and luxury residential Ritz Carlton development being proposed by The Star Entertainment Group, which has added lobbying powerhouse Crosby Textor to its conga-line of consultants.

The NSW Lobbyist Register was amended on Monday with The Star added to the list of Crosby Textor clients.

Credited for masterminding the political victories of the likes of John Howard and Boris Johnson, its employees include former NSW Liberal State director Remo Nogarotto, who is an executive chairman, and ex-National Party State director Michael Priebe.

The proposed Ritz Carlton. Picture: Supplied

The register also lists four other lobbying firms that count The Star as a client, two of which — PremierNational and Premier State Consulting — are owned by Liberal powerbroker Michael Photios.

The register reveals Newgate Communications and Nexus also have The Star on their books.

Just how the Premier will break the impasse remains to be seen but like the Abortion Bill, the Coalition must at least be relieved the issue did not explode in the lead up to the State election, especially if claims by government sources that the Planning Department quietly finalised its decision to reject the proposal back in December are true.

SORRY NOT SORRY

Scott Morrison thought he had left his Pacific woes behind him when he turned up to the opening of a new football clubhouse at Lilli Pilli Oval last weekend.

That was until Sutherland Shire Councillor Ray Plibersek turned up.

Onlookers claim the Labor councillor, who happens to also be the older brother of Federal MP Tanya Plibersek, made an entrance in a suit, only to later remove his jacket to reveal a T-shirt emblazoned with “Sorry Pacific” on it.

Ray Plibersek wore a T-shirt with “Sorry Pacific” to a football clubhouse.

It came following Scott Morrison’s trip to the Pacific. Picture: AAP Image/Mick Tsikas

Liberal Sutherland Shire Mayor, Councillor Carmelo Pesce, said he advised the NSW Public Service lawyer that it was “not the time nor place” given the occasion was a community event.

“He was there representing council as a councillor,” Mayor Pesce said. “It was disrespectful.”

When The Sauce contacted Plibersek, he stood by his actions.

“I shook the Prime Minister’s hand,” he said. “It was respectful.

“Climate change is a real issue for the Pacific Islands which are disappearing into the sea.”

TEAM ALBO

Policy veteran Andrew Dempster is to join the office of Labor leader Anthony Albanese.

A former staffer in the office of ex-Labor education minister Chris Evans, Dempster had only recently joined KPMG in Canberra.

However, when the knock on the door came, it is understood Dempster was happy to head back to the fold in the role of policy director.

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