Strathfield councillor working with One Nation gets ‘positive response’ from community

A councillor representing one of the state’s most Asian communities has decided to work for firebrand One Nation MLC Mark Latham and the community reaction was apparently “very positive”.

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One Nation leader Pauline Hanson famously said Australia was in danger of being “swamped by Asians”.

So what happens when a local councillor representing one of Australia’s most Asian communities decides to work for firebrand One Nation MLC Mark Latham?

A “very positive community response” apparently.

Strathfield councillor Nella Hall first left the Liberal Party in 2006, before joining the Christian Democrats in 2015.

She ditched her Christian crew in early 2019 and as of April has been working as executive assistant for the former Labor leader. She has not joined One Nation.

Nella Hall apparently got a “positive response” from the Strathfield community after working with One Nation’s Mark Latham.

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So why has she decided to further her career working for Latham? He asked, she told Sauce correspondent Ben Pike, just like the CDP did when she joined them in 2015.

“It was an opportunity to work for someone who is so skilful and intelligent,” she said.

“Mark is a great boss who is very patient and kind.”

Hall wouldn’t rule out running
as a One Nation candidate in the next state election. The Sauce can also confirm she is working from the same state parliament office vacated by former CDP MLC Paul Green, who missed out by a coat of varnish in the 2019 election.

COALITION’S FLY IN, OUT BAN

Coalition chiefs-of-staff and advisers will no longer be able to “fly-in, fly-out” to their ministerial offices, with the Coalition government’s “Star Chamber” demanding employees reside in their boss’s home state or Canberra.

A Capital Hill source said the edict was designed to address a period of “lax” hiring practices, whereby ministers had been enlisting staff from “everywhere” to replace the scores of employees departing ahead of the expected demise of the Morrison government.

“Ministers took on staff irrespective of where they lived and now there are people flying in from everywhere,” the source said. “They will now have to live in Canberra or the minister’s home state.”

The source said the edict applied to ministerial chiefs-of-staff, but was expected to be extended to senior advisers.

It is understood it does not apply to the Prime Minister’s Office, which hires more than 50 staff.

BABY ON THE WAY

As the Treasurer, Dom Perrottet already has a lot on his plate — especially with a State Budget to hand down this week.

But The Sauce can reveal the sleepless nights will not end on Tuesday, with the father of five set to add another baby to his already sizeable brood.

NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet, pictured with his wife Helen and five kids, is expecting another baby. Picture: Jenny Evans

Many congratulations from us.

There’s no word yet on a date for the impending arrival — and also no word on if there’s any more planned for the future.

FOLEY FORAY

Just what was former Labor leader Luke Foley doing in Macquarie Street last week? A Labor operative said the former Auburn MP was seen having coffee with his wife at a cafe opposite Parliament House.

The alleged sighting comes less than a year since the former union firebrand resigned the leadership after declaring he could not contest the upcoming election while fighting “false” sexual harassment claims made by an ABC reporter.

Foley did not return The Sauce’s calls.

SENATE SCRAMBLE

Catholic Schools NSW chief executive officer Dallas McInerney and NSW Liberal vice-president Kent Johns have emerged as frontrunners to fill the NSW Senate vacancy.

The spot, made vacant following the posting of NSW Senator Arthur Sinodinos to the role of US ambassador, is set to be hotly contested, with talk that failed Gilmore candidate Warren Mundine may even put his hand up.

Warren Mundine may put his hand up to fill the NSW Senate vacancy.

Johns, who has long harboured federal political ambitions, missed out on snagging the seat of Hughes in the lead-up to the federal election after PM Scott Morrison forced through a special ballot to endorse all sitting members, a move that secured the seat for Craig Kelly.

Party figures say the PM could again influence the outcome of the Senate vacancy should he push for the spot to be taken by Mundine.

OUTER OFFICE

It sucks to be the new kid on the block. While everyone in the expanded Berejiklian government is enjoying two city offices — one in 52 Martin Place and another in Parliament House — new ministers Damien Tudehope and Bronnie Taylor have been relegated to sole digs in Macquarie Street.

Damien Tudehope, left, has been relegated sole digs in Parliament House. Picture: Adam Yip

However, a parliamentary source said Tudehope was unfazed by not being in “52 MP”.

“He prefers the cafe in Parliament House anyway,” the source said.

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