Special Sauce: Spender playing chicken with democracy sausages

It’s the best part of voting for many, but Teal candidate Allegra Spender couldn’t take even a bite? Read why with our special Federal Election Sauce.

Wentworth Teal candidate Allegra Spender spent Saturday morning surrounded by voters and the smell of democracy sausage sizzles, knowing that was the one thing she could not have.

“I haven’t eaten a thing because I am allergic,” Ms Spender said. “I got bitten by a tick and it has made me allergic to mammals.

“If I am re-elected, the first thing I will mandate will be chicken sausages at polling booths.”

No sausage, but Allegra Spender was still all smiles on election day. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Still on sausages, it was good to see the well-heeled folks of Double Bay being able to make fun of themselves.

On the menu at Double Bay Public School were $6 democracy sausages and identical $12 “double pay” ones for those wanting to avoid feeling cheap.

NOT WELCOME

In efforts to give the nation’s most marginal seat the focus it deserves, The Sunday Telegraph sent two reporters to Gilmore — one to focus on Liberal challenger Andrew Constance and one to follow Labor incumbent Fiona Phillips.

Gilmore Labor MP Fiona Phillips after giving her victory speech on 2025 Election Day. Picture: Hannah Farrow

After several attempts to nail down the candidates’ plans leading up the election, The Sauce was surprised to hear reporters were flatly informed Ms Phillips was having a “private party” – no journalists invited – only for the MP to later have a change of heart.

Sauce wonders if the wafer-thin margin and the prospect of concession to Mr Constance was behind Phillips’ reticence to have an audience?

Over in Fowler, Labor candidate Tu Le was also not having a bar of journalists, refusing to answer questions until after the polls had closed.

OLD HANDS

Former premier Mike Baird – who has long been courted by the Liberals to return to politics – was seen on Saturday lending Warringah candidate Jaimee Rogers a hand in her bid to unseat Zali Steggall in the once blue-ribbon seat.

He was among several high-profile former pollies out on the hustings in Teal-challenged seats — former NSW Liberal minister Matt Kean was also spotted handing out for Berowra MP Julian Leeser.

Leeser was facing a challenge by Climate 200-backed Tina Brown.

Former premier Mike Baird (right) was spotted helping Warringah Liberal candidate Jaimee Rogers.

Another former premier, Gladys Berejiklian (left), was with Bradfield Liberal candidate Gisele Kapterian on Friday

On Friday, Bradfield Liberal candidate Gisele Kapterian posted a photo of herself with another former NSW premier – Gladys Berejiklian.

Over in the marginal seat of Bennelong, former prime minister Tony Abbott was spotted helping Liberal candidate Scott Yung.

Abbott later made his way to his old seat of Warringah, where an eyewitness claimed his presence at Seaforth Public School sent Teal volunteers into a frenzy: “Zali’s supporters went feral and were calling her to get down to the school.”

TRUCK MISHAP #2

A second Liberal Party campaign truck for candidate Rattan Virk has been involved in an incident in the federal electorate of Greenway.

But unlike last week’s dramatic crash into a polling centre, this truck was simply driven off with its back door waving open.

A video taken on Saturday showed a man frantically chasing after the truck as it drove off down the street.

Eyewitnesses claimed it looked as if the truck had no one in it, especially after the man put his hands on his head in apparent despair.

However, a Liberal Party source claimed there was a driver in the vehicle.

The source claimed the driver eventually pulled over to close the door.

Phew.

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