The Sauce: NSW Cabinet ministers whoop it up on #tooleystour

NSW government ministers were told to film themselves heading to community cabinet in Bathurst last week in “unique” ways — and the result is a video that’s equal parts cringe-worthy and hilarious.

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It’s one of the more extraordinary edicts to come out of NSW cabinet.

In a sign of desperate times, ministers were told to film themselves heading to community cabinet in the state’s central west last week in “unique” ways.

Police Minister Troy Grant hitched a ride in a paddy wagon for his ‘unique’ way to get to last week’s community cabinet meeting in Bathurst.

With the Bonanza theme in the background, the four-minute clip included Niall Blair running to the meeting, Tanya Davies rowing a canoe and Troy Grant handcuffed and put in the back of a police paddy wagon.

The Sauce understands the politicians were supplied with a guide on social media for the trip to the Bathurst electorate.

Disability Services Minister Ray Williams hopped on his trusty steed Nugget.

One suggestion was riding into town on a horse — an idea Castle Hill MP Ray Williams latched on to. He filmed himself holding the reins of Nugget and asking for a “coldie” for the “old fella”.

Other highlights include cringe-worthy phone acting from Matt Kean, and Victor Dominello lip-synching to Creedence Clearwater Revival’s Have You Ever Seen the Rain?

Minister for Mental Health, Women and Ageing Tanya Davies avoided traffic by taking to the water.

Tellingly, Premier Gladys Berejiklian wasn’t in the clip.

The video has also had the appropriate Twitter hashtag of #tooleystour … inspired by local member Paul Toole.

THE JOYCE OF BEING A LOBBYIST

It’s been a rocky year for the Joyce children but life appears to have moved on for Barnaby’s eldest daughter Bridgette.

The 21-year-old posted a photo of herself having drinks with controversial Canberra lobbyist Michael Kauter.

Barnaby Joyce’s daughter Bridgette (right) enjoys a drink with lobbyist Michael Kauter. Picture: Instagram @bridgettejoyce

Kauter, who founded Strategic Political Counsel, was a key Nationals donor until a falling out with Nationals NSW boss Ross Caddell over sponsorship of a conference.

Posting on Instagram from the Ostani Lounge, Bar and Restaurant, Joyce joked about having joined Kauter as a lobbyist while making fun of the turmoil enveloping Canberra.

“The Capital in crisis!” she wrote. “But we’re sorting it out. Loving my new job as a lobbyist. Canberra got lit!” Cheers to that.

A PIXIE PUSHED?

For a party wanting more women in its ranks, the Nationals have a lot to answer for.

Four months after winning preselection to represent the Nationals in the Shooters-held seat of Orange, Yvette Quinn quit, citing “personal reasons”.

However The Sauce can now reveal the sudden decision by the 21-year-old to stand aside was not entirely of her own choosing.

Senior party sources claim she was subjected to intense pressure from female counterparts within the Nationals to stand aside.

Former Nationals candidate for Orange Yvette Quinn — seen here dressed up for a reading festival — has quit ‘for personal reasons’.

The four approaches made to Quinn are understood to include two from the wife of a Nationals MP and one by a former female Nationals MP.

One source said Quinn was, at one stage, encouraged to quit on the spot during a party meeting.

Among the reasons Quinn was understood to have been given to stand aside was “poor polling”, even though polls showed the party was tracking south while Quinn’s personal rating was rising.

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The approaches were made just a month after she was preselected, with more following in September after she was criticised for posting a photograph of herself up a tree in a red pixie outfit while taking part in a reading festival that required participants to dress in the “most ridiculous outfit” they could find.

Quinn, who has never spoken publicly, stood down on October 10.

A source close to the mental health worker said she felt she could not go on without the party behind her.

“She was a pawn in all of this,” the source said. “She won the preselection fair and square but was given no chance to prove herself.”

THE WONG STORY

Julie Bishop was seen deep in conversation last week with party powerbroker Michael Photios, sparking talk of a ‘leadership tilt’. Picture Kym Smith

IT may have been an innocent catch-up among two Liberal Lefties, but the sighting of former deputy leader Julie Bishop and party powerbroker Michael Photios deep in conversation over dim sum at Mr Wong last Friday night set tongues wagging.

With the ScoMo government in turmoil, nervous observers were asking if Bishop was hatching a rescue plan with one of the party’s chief numbers men.

One Liberal source did not rule out a leadership tilt but “after” the election.

However a source close to the former foreign minister said the odds were on Bishop retiring. “She will retire at a time of her choosing when she can choose her successor,” they said.

RECORD RUMOURS AS LIBS HIT PANIC BUTTON

After the drubbing in Victoria, it’s no surprise Liberals are in panic-mode — but the volume of rumours doing the rounds about various MPs last week set a new record.

Among the juicier stories was that a sitting MP was the subject of an active Australian Federal Police probe. After several media outlets, including The Sauce, made inquiries to the MP’s office, the MP himself sought confirmation from the AFP that this was not the case.

The Sauce has been told the AFP letter “categorically denies there was an investigation”. Media outlets were even asked for confirmation the rumour had emanated from the “Turnbull camp”.

And there’s still six months to go to an election.

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