The Sauce: Malcolm Turnbull hosts his own Christmas party
Former PM Malcolm Turnbull opened up his palatial Point Piper home to his political staff for a work Christmas party. But in an awkward coincidence, Scott Morrison’s team held its Christmas party at The Lodge at the same time, The Sauce reveals.
NSW
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Dumped prime minster Malcolm Turnbull may have run out of friends in the Liberal Party, but ex-staff members are sticking by him.
On Friday, the former PM did what few bosses would do, opening up his palatial Point Piper home to his political staff for a work Christmas party.
Former principal private secretary, Sally Cray, personal snapper Sahlan Hayes and former media adviser Daniel Meers — who is still spinning for Turnbull — were spotted during the soiree on the balcony of the luxurious harbourside mansion. Turnbull appeared to be living his best life, enjoying a lunchtime Aperol spritz overlooking Sydney Harbour.
Long-time Turnbull staffer David Bold was seen chatting to Turnbull’s daughter Daisy,
while son Alex was nowhere to be seen.
The Sauce understands not every member of the former PM’s staff got an invite with a few former policy advisers miffed as to why they weren’t asked to attend.
In an awkward coincidence, Scott Morrison’s team held its Christmas party at The Lodge at the same time.
Staff were invited to bring partners and children to the low key affair at the PM’s Canberra digs.
Some of those attending the function thought ScoMo had thrown an APEC-themed party due to his silly shirt which featured blue surf boards.
Nope, that was just his Friday-best.
ABUSIVE TEXT MESSAGES
What happens when you write about sexism in the National Party?
Well, in our political editor Annika Smethurst’s case, you get a series of abusive text messages ranging from the expected: “You are an unethical journalist” to the just plain obscene: “feminist c …”.
These are not from angry Nats but from a federal Coalition staffer who took umbrage at Smethurst’s story about machinations in the Queensland LNP that saw outspoken Senator Barry O’Sullivan booted down the ticket.
The staffer, whom we’ve decided not to name, rang Smethurst several times on Saturday afternoon and sent three outraged messages, culminating in this: “I thought my mum would write … no … hope her family dies of vicious cancel (sic) … I mean that … painful cancer for a vicious feminist C …,” the text message read.
“A c … Let her come to my home … slap her on her bitch face”.
Smethurst did not respond to the message.
The staffer and the politician who employs him have both apologised, claiming the messages were not intended for Smethurst but were, in fact, part of a different dispute with someone else altogether.
Well, that's all right then! And they wonder if they have a problem with women.
COME IN, SPINNER
The sighting of former premier Mike Baird’s communication director Imre Salusinszky walking out of the NSW Supreme Court this week during the James Packer Crown Resorts and Lendlease legal stoush against the state-run Barangaroo Delivery Authority (BDA) over the blocking of harbour views set tongues wagging.
Was the former spinner doing some consulting work for his old boss’s successor Premier Gladys Berejiklian? Not quite, said the “blissfully retired” Salusinszky.
The former journalist said he did some communications work for BDA in early November, only to become so interested in the case that he “dropped in to court this week to see how it turned out”.
Given BDA’s loss, Salusinszky may be forced out of retirement yet.
TURNBULL TELL-ALL
Coalition MPs can rest easy — The Sauce can confirm the tell-all book being penned by Malcolm Turnbull will not be released before the May election.
Those in the know say the as-yet untitled publication is still in the “very early stages”, with the finished publication expected to land in time for Christmas 2019.
While much of the book is expected to be dedicated to politics — bonk bans and Barnaby expected to receive honourable mentions — there will also be a chapter on Turnbull’s business career. As for the book’s publisher, an official announcement will be made early in the new year.
FREE BEER?
As one of the safest Liberal seats in NSW, Baulkham Hills Labor candidate Ryan Tracy is up against it. But even his political opponent, Corrections Minister David Elliott, gives him points for trying.
Not only has Tracy promised an underpass on Windsor Rd despite it not being signed off by the Parliamentary Budget Office, the Hills councillor has also pledged to advocate for an M2 cashback scheme — which he also had admitted is uncosted.
“I’m now holding out for an expected promise of free beer on Fridays if I’m elected,”
Mr Elliott said.
GOT SOME SAUCE? Contact linda.silmalis@news.com.au, miranda.wood@news.com.au, or annika.smethurst@news.com.au