The Sauce: HSU boss Gerard Hayes lets loose at Cessnock MP Clayton Barr

A Labor MP’s furious reply to a Health Services Union worker’s request for a meeting has resulted in a scathing, yet humorous, missive addressed to the ‘Grand Duke of Cessnock’.

A testy email exchange between union officials and a Labor MP has demonstrated just how fraught the relationship is.

Senior Health Services Union (HSU) official Adam Hall had fired off a letter to Cessnock MP Clayton Barr to organise a catch-up about issues the union was campaigning on “and to discuss other matters of importance to yourself and your electorate”.

The relatively chirpy letter by Hall congratulated Barr on his election win before declaring Hall he was in and around parliament “most days” should the MP be free to meet.

“Take care and look forward to catching up,” Hall said.

But instead of receiving a meeting date, Hall instead copped a spray.

Cessnock MP Clayton Barr (left) has copped a sarcastic spray from HSU boss Gerard Hayes.

In his reply email, Barr wrote how he was “filthy” at the union for its role in “wiping out” long-serving MP Mick Veitch from the party’s ticket in the lead-up to the election and how now HSU boss Gerard Hayes was “sticking it to new Premier Minns” about wages caps.

“That followed on from the savage HSU attacks on former Leader Jodi McKay,” Barr wrote.

“So if we are to meet, I would certainly hope you could bring along some explanation as the political games of the HSU. Regards, Clayton”.

Not sure what Hall thought of the response, but Hayes was unimpressed.

Starting an email to Barr with “His Excellency, The Rt. Most Hon. Clayton Barr, Grand Duke of Cessnock”, Hayes let Barr know what he thought of his attitude.

“May I begin this correspondence with a humble apology on behalf of 47,000 health and hospital workers, some of whom reside within your realm,” he wrote.

Adam Hall from the HSU. Picture: Marc McCormack

“I beseech thee to excuse our impertinence for seeking an audience with His Excellency to explain our petty woes. This was a profound error of judgment on our part.

“The HSU profoundly regrets its actions to help NSW Labor become electorally competitive. Political leadership and election campaigns are far above our rank. Thank you for reminding us of our place in the world.”

Hayes said the union had now “heeded His Excellency’s message” about the need for “unquestioning loyalty to the Crown” and that “as mere subjects”, it was “beyond impertinent” for the union to seek increases to wages and conditions.

“We should be satisfied with our lot and grateful to serve under such a beneficent Crown,” Hayes wrote.

“Should His Excellency ever find time in his undoubtedly very busy schedule to grant an audience to our motley crew of paramedics, cleaners, therapists, security officers and wardspeople we would be eternally grateful.

“To be blessed with His Excellency’s wisdom would be an honour for the ages.”

Hayes signed the correspondence from “your humble and obedient servant”.

The catch-up will be interesting.

NEW ROAD FOR ELLIOTT

Former police and transport minister David Elliott is among the names touted as being on the tightly held shortlist of the Clubs NSW chief executive officer role.

And having never shied away from a grenade — nor throwing the odd one himself — he may have been just what the beleaguered organisation needed with the growing scrutiny of gambling, especially given his earlier role as deputy chief executive of the Australian Hotels Association.

Former MP and minister David Elliott has a new role. Picture: Richard Dobson

But The Sauce can reveal Elliott will be politely declining any offers.

That’s because the former Civil Contractors Federation (NSW) boss is heading back to his old stomping ground of construction, taking on the role of chief executive officer of the Institute of Public Works Engineering Australasia (NSW and ACT).

Elliott said he was delighted to be back in the infrastructure space at a time when road construction, disaster recovery and the skills shortage were at the forefront of public policy debates.

“I will be working to make sure the institute has a bigger seat at the infrastructure table while ensuring the ongoing development and appeal of the engineering profession is well represented,” he said.

Whether this signals the end of the 52-year-old’s political career is yet to be determined, with ongoing speculation the party firebrand will be tapped — if he hasn’t been already — to help Liberal leader Peter Dutton’s claw back seats at the next federal election.

Elliott is not the only member of his family to land a new gig.

His son Lachlan also has a new role, as an associate analyst at Macquarie Group.

Lachlan was dragged into the political firestorm over gaming last year after it emerged he had an internship at Aristocrat, forcing Elliott to excuse himself from Cabinet discussions involving gambling.

HOME TRUTHS

Labor millionaire MP Andrew Charlton is increasing his property stake in his electorate of Parramatta.

The former Bellevue Hill local first bought a brick home in the Western Sydney electorate in the lead-up to the federal election, only to rent it out.

His minders said he was renting a different place and planned to move into the property after he had renovated it to make it more “habitable”.

With no obvious building works occurring at his property, Parramatta sources claimed Charlton had no intention to renovate and move in.

The Sauce was told Charlton had purchased a second property in Parramatta, which he will soon make his home.

His spokesman said: “Andrew Charlton lives in Parramatta. He will soon be moving from his current home in Parramatta to a new home in Parramatta.”