The Sauce: Former premier’s chief-of-staff slams ‘vote loser’ Keneally

A former premier’s chief of staff has taken aim at Senator Kristina Keneally, slamming her as a ‘vote loser’ and saying she was a major flaw in Labor’s recent election campaign.

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The knives are well and truly out in NSW politics, with one of Barry O’Farrell’s former chiefs of staff, Peter Shmigel, describing Senator Kristina Keneally as a “vote loser”.

After Labor’s shock election loss, Shmigel let loose on the female former premier via Facebook this week: “You knew something was fundamentally wrong with Labor’s campaign — strategically, technically and emotionally — when they glued Kristina Keneally (a backbench Senator really) to Shorten’s side.”

Bill Shorten and Kristina Keneally play with Labrador puppies Bill and Beau during a visit to Guide Dogs Victoria during the campaign. Picture: Lukas Coch/AAP

And he went on: “She was the person that took Labor to its worst-ever state loss and she got smashed in the 2017 Bennelong by-election. Internal polls have consistently shown her to be a vote loser.

“While the media may love her, the public can see through the veneer.”

Tell us what you really think Peter.

MORE SAUCE

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STAY CLASSY

Liberal Party members have long considered themselves as having a little more grace and decorum than the ratbags in Labor.

Julia Banks received a nasty text from a fellow Lib following her election loss. Picture: Kym Smith

But The Sauce reckons that, in reality, they are both as bad as each other.

Far from being gracious in victory, a former Liberal campaigner who worked closely with Julia Banks during her successful 2016 election win fired off a text last Saturday night informing her, in detail, how thrilled he was that she had lost.

You stay classy Liberal Party!

THE BIG NO-SHOW

Barnaby Joyce was a no-show at the National Party’s first party room meeting in Canberra on Thursday, prompting speculation the former Deputy PM and his partner Vikki are close to welcoming their second bundle of joy.

Is Vikki Campion and Barnaby Joyce’s new baby about to be born? Picture: Channel 7

But The Sauce has heard from a few National Party MPs who believed Joyce simply couldn’t deal with seeing his successor Michael McCormack being elected unopposed after a strong election for the junior Coalition partner.

Surely not, Barnaby.

PLEASE GO, MARGO

Former Fairfax journalist Margo Kingston has quit Twitter after an online meltdown over last weekend’s election result.

Margo Kingston took the election result hard.

Kingston had generously donated her media skills to promote a group of hand-picked independents, including Rob Oakeshott in Cowper and Ray Kingston in the seat of Mallee.

But, despite her best efforts at campaign journalism, neither will be heading to Canberra any time soon.

Poor Kingston appeared to take the news of ScoMo’s re-election particularly badly, declaring our democracy “broken”.

“I believe #ausvotes was won by a fraud & that our democracy is broken — including MSM (mainstream media)” she wrote. “How f#^&ing long have I been tweeting Morrison is our Trump.”

Expanding her criticism to her former press gallery colleagues, Kingston described them as “a self indulgent cabal of banal snarks” who actively helped Morrison win.

Needless to say, most gallery journos welcomed the news that she will be taking a six-month break from Twitter and the mainstream media.

CHEESE, NO WHINE

How good is Kirribilli?

That was the question Scott Morrison was no doubt asking his staff when he opened the doors to his Harbourside pad last for a Sunday session the day after the election.

The Sauce hears ScoMo’s staff, partners and children were invited to his Sydney residence for a casual afternoon of cheese and beers to celebrate the election win.

Maybe there was a few not-so-quiet Australians later in the day?

PICK ME, PICK ME

The Labor Party may have finally settled on two candidates to contest the NSW leadership, but the glittering prize had a number of would-be premiers thinking big.

Kogarah MP Chris Minns held a barbecue for his supports yesterday. Picture: David Gray/AAP

The Sauce couldn’t possibly reveal who, but one particularly enthusiastic MP — tasked with gaining support for another hopeful — perhaps got a little carried away when their candidate was knocked back by one colleague, by immediately offering themselves up for the top job instead.

They’ll definitely go far.

Meanwhile, actual leadership candidate Chris Minns is trying to win more lasting loyalty from colleagues and party members, hosting a barbecue for some of his supporters in Earlwood yesterday.

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