The Sauce: Luke Foley fails to show up at royal event
THE who’s who of Sydney joined royals Harry and Meghan at Hyde Park for the opening of the Centenary Extension yesterday. Despite being sent a personal invitation from the Premier, state Opposition Leader Luke Foley didn’t attend. Here’s why.
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LUKE’S A NO-SHOW AT ROYAL EVENT
THE who’s who of Sydney joined royals Harry and Meghan at the Hyde Park Anzac Memorial for the opening of the Centenary Extension and the laying of a wreath yesterday.
However one invited VIP was notably absent. Despite being sent a personal invitation from Premier Gladys Berejiklian, state Opposition Leader Luke Foley sent his apologies.
Instead, the Labor leader sent in his place Opposition veterans affairs spokeswoman Lynda Voltz, who is also a former military officer.
It was a fortuitous decision, given the last thing Foley would have wanted was to have to come face-to-face with Veterans Affairs Minister David Elliott, who last week sensationally accused him of harassing an ABC journalist after having “too much to drink”.
Mr Foley has denied the allegation, challenging Mr Elliott to repeat it without the protection of parliamentary privilege.
A spokesman for Mr Foley said he had a “longstanding commitment” to attend a community rally “for the restoration of train services for Western Sydney commuters”.
“It had been in his diary for months,” he said.
Mr Elliott described Mr Foley’s absence as “disappointing”, given he was a trustee of the Anzac Memorial.
“This is a disappointing attitude from a man who claims to be the alternative premier,” he told The Sauce.
Hmmm.
MIND THE EXIT WOUNDS PLEASE
ONCE hailed as Labor’s “dream team” — former prime ministers-turned- political rivals Julia Gillard and Kevin Rudd — are threatening to reopen old wounds when they return to Canberra this week. As if to prove to the Coalition that Labor’s festering animosities are stronger than those in the Liberal Party, The Sauce understands Gillard and Rudd have duelling events at Parliament House.
Gillard will be back on the Hill tomorrow for the National Apology to victims and survivors of institutional child sexual abuse. Coincidently, Rudd will return to the nation’s capital on Tuesday to launch the second volume of his not-so best-selling memoir.
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The Sauce understands Rudd has dedicated a fair chunk of it to a character assassination of Gillard, prompting many Labor MPs to boycott his event.
But Gillard will have her turn to retaliate, returning to Parliament House on Wednesday for the unveiling of her official portrait.
WHAT’S THAT YOU SAY, PUFFING BILL?
HE’S known for smashing out up to 10km every morning, but Labor leader Bill Shorten is now using his daily runs to tick off his phone calls.
Labor staffers say they’ve regularly been woken by a dawn call from Shorten while he’s on his run.
But in a sign of improving cardiovascular fitness, staffers have noted his phone calls were now at least “decipherable”.
“He can talk, breathe and run at the same time now, so we can actually hear him,” one Labor source said last week.
TURNBULL TIRADE
A FORMER researcher for Malcolm Turnbull has been going rogue on Twitter, taking on anyone who dares to criticise his dumped boss.
Sky News presenter Chris Kenny was targeted last week after the political journalist stated the Wentworth by-election was only being held because Turnbull had “spat the dummy and ran away”.
“He’s shown no loyalty to the party that gave him the prime ministership,” Kenny had stated. Taking to Twitter, Jake Pinczewski let fly: “When you get sacked as Sky News presenter, I hope you stick around to help your replacement improve their numbers. Do you listen to yourself?”
Earlier, Pinczewski took aim at Ten News presenter Sandra Sully, over a report on Centennial Park being given formal recognition as a significant place.
“Sandra this report makes it appear that the only reason this is happening is because of the
by-election,” Pinczewski tweeted.
“Malcolm Turnbull wrote to (former Environment Minister) Mark Speakman about this in 2014.”
Fairfax political editor Phil Coorey also copped a serve over a story on Tony Abbott calling on Turnbull to help out in Wentworth.
“You mean he should aside from the time that he already did?” Pinczewski asked.
The Sauce thinks someone might have too much time on their hands!
I’D NEVER BE A LABOR RAT
HIS rivals claim he’s been threatening to run as an independent should he not be endorsed by Labor — not so, says besieged Cabramatta MP Nick Lalich.
The 73-year-old, whose seat has attracted a field of prospective Labor candidates, says he will be bowing out gracefully should the party choose an alternate candidate. “Nick would never do anything that would make himself classed as a Labor rat,” his spokesman told The Sauce.
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