The Sauce: Staffers abandon ‘work-a-holic’ teal Jacqui Scruby
Four staff members have quit teal MP Jacqui Scruby's Pittwater office, while the politician defends her team's achievements amid workplace culture claims.
Not everyone is happy on the insular peninsula.
Up to four staff in the office of “teal” MP Jacqui Scruby have left recently.
Given most NSW MPs are only entitled to about four full-time taxpayer-funded staff, The Sauce questions what might be going on in the Pittwater office.
One source suggested Scruby was a “work-a-holic”, noting she apparently spent a day “driving around the electorate counting pot-holes”.
Another source claimed Scruby had since brought back a former staffer.
Asked for a response, Scruby said there had been “some recent turnover”. However, she was full of praise for her staff.
“My team have been incredible in supporting the Pittwater community, helping to deliver an additional $250m on Mona Vale Rd West, $6.7m for the Narrabeen Sports Track and road upgrades to fix potholes, as well as managing thousands of constituent cases,” she said.
Carr to calm waters
Premier Chris Minns has given Bob Carr a plum gig on the Sydney Water board.
The role is fitting given Carr’s involvement with the utility as NSW premier when the “millennium drought” was wreaking havoc across Australia.
About two decades ago, Carr called me from Dubai, where he had been inspecting desalination plants, and told me he would be announcing sites for one in Sydney.
It seemed like a radical idea, but dam levels were plunging despite Sydney being in the grip of some of its toughest ever water restrictions. Watering by hose was only allowed on Wednesdays and Sundays. No washing the car unless with a bucket. Fines for “stealing water” were quadrupled.
Despite fierce resistance, a bit of flip-flopping on whether to go ahead with it and the inevitable cost blowouts, the $1.8bn plant was realised in Kurnell, where it continues to contribute up to 15 per cent of the city’s water needs.
Carr, who is expected to receive about $80,000 for the role, joins Sydney Water at a tumultuous time, with managing director Roch Cheroux recently removed following a troubled period for the organisation.
Sydney Water recently came under fire for spending millions on marketing as it sought to increase average household bills by 50 per cent over five years. It has also been grappling “forever chemicals" being found in its systems.
Carr will be joined on the board by former NSW Teachers Federation boss and experienced non-executive director Maree O’Halloran.
They’ll start on November 17 when new CEO Darren Cleary starts.
JOB RUMOURS
There are whispers that former Liberal minister Stuart Ayres is sniffing around the Australian Turf Club CEO gig after sightings of him allegedly cosying up to a few directors at a recent race meeting.
Ayres has owned shares in several racehorses, but he already has a job as the CEO of the Urban Development Institute of Australia NSW.
He was unable to be contacted but has previously rejected other rumours of a new gig, telling The Sauce he remains focused on his job.
PUB POLITICS
Former Liberal senator Hollie Hughes has swapped roasting pollies with roasting lamb rolls.
Hughes left the Senate after losing a preselection battle, and wasted no time launching a new career as the owner of Rydal pub, which she bought with husband Richard Gordon.
The locals have embraced the couple, with Hughes telling The Sauce she served “40 meals in 70 minutes” on one of the busier nights.
BABY NEWS
And baby makes three – Tudehopes in parliament, that is. When the Liberals held their party room meeting last Thursday, Epping MP Monica Tudehope took the opportunity to announce her pregnancy. Dad Damien Tudehope, who is opposition treasury spokesman, told The Sauce he would be becoming a grandfather again next April.
Got some Sauce? Contact linda.silmalis@news.com.au
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