The Sauce: Tony Abbott’s youngest daughter dating Brad Hazzard’s son
THE state’s hottest new political column today outs the new relationship between the son and daughter of two political stalwarts.
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THE Sauce is a new weekly column covering the top end of town — all levels of politics, business and the law.
The Sunday Telegraph senior reporters Linda Silmalis, Miranda Wood and Annika Smethurst go behind the headlines.
GEN NEXT OF LIB LOVE
IT’S a match made in political heaven. Tony Abbott’s youngest daughter, Bridget, has been quietly dating Dave Hazzard, the son of NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard.
With both their Liberal Party fathers representing seats on Sydney’s northern beaches, it’s no wonder these two have fallen for each other.
The couple has posted candid pictures of themselves on social media, even in matching swimwear.
Just four years ago, Bridget was quoted at an event saying she was single and ready for love.
“I like someone who is funny, down to earth and easygoing. Someone who is mature enough to take my immaturity.”
Looks like she’s found him.
THE SAUCE: CIVIL WAR ERUPTS OVER WHO WILL REPLACE EMMA HUSAR
Ms Vitnell-Leembruggen, who counts Barnaby Joyce’s partner Vikki Campion among her Canberra confidantes, is no doubt still feeling the glow from their stunning wedding, held at Peppers Manor House in the Southern Highlands earlier this year.
PARLIAMENTARY POO-SHOOTER
amid the chaos in Canberra this week, someone cause a “spill” of a different kind in the ministerial wing.
First Brisbane, then Sydney, now federal Parliament has played host to a mysterious poo shooter, in this case leaving an almighty mess in the ladies’ toilets on level one of the ministerial wing.
THE SAUCE: WHY ARE LIBERAL STAFFERS HEADING FOR THE DOOR?
A sign has appeared in the ladies’ toilets calling on an unknown staffer — or pollie — to stop “disgracing” themselves during sitting weeks.
Permanent staff of Parliament House and good citizens, you can rest assured, the political pooer only makes a mess during sitting weeks, which limits the number of possible guilty parties.
We wonder if this will continue under the Dutton/ScoMo/Bishop ministry?
MR AND MRS POLITICAL INFLUENCE
THEY have been one of Canberra’s most intriguing couples. Last week, one received a promotion to the highest office, while the other became a free agent.
Julian Leembruggen has been one of Scott Morrison’s most loyal lieutenants, starting out as an adviser when his boss first entered parliament in 2007 before rising to the role of head of strategy.
With ScoMo now PM, Leembruggen has one of the most powerful roles in the country. Meanwhile, his new wife Brooke Vitnell-Leembruggen was left without a job after her boss, Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells, quit in the attempt to force Malcolm Turnbull to stand aside for Peter Dutton. Oops.
Given her experience and a law degree under her belt — Vitnell-Leembruggen has worked as an adviser in the offices of Stephen Ciobo, Michaelia Cash and former MP Bob Baldwin — it is unlikely she will be jobless for long.
GETTIN’ SHREDDED
STAFFERS know everything. Malcolm Turnbull was still digging in but by Thursday lunchtime his team had lined the corridor outside the PMO with five wheelie bins full of shredded documents.
DON’T SHOOT
CRIME stats say Sydney is safer than ever. Tell it to Shooters, Farmers and Fishers spinner John Townsend. who’s been mugged and pick-pocketed already this year. In February he was knocked to the ground and kicked while walking home from the train in Ashfield, then six months later his wallet was pinched at the airport. “Hopefully I’ve had my fill of crime-related incidents this year, ” Townsend told The Sauce.
1300-MELTDOWN
FEDERAL bureaucrats chose the middle of a spill to launch a new counselling service, sending all ministerial and parliamentary staff an email telling them how to access “Trauma and Critical Incident Counselling — following exposure to trauma or a critical incident.”
Can we apply too?