The Sauce: Which pollies’ cars have most accidents?

Freedom of information requests have uncovered the details of damage to the state’s ministerial fleet. Whose cars copped most damage? Read The Sauce to find out.

Police Minister Yasmin Catley and Minister for Women Jodie Harrison’s ministerial cars copped hail damage, while the wrong fuel was used in the car of Regional Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison.

But it was the two ministerial cars assigned to Premier Chris Minns that were smashed up the most, racking up more than $28,000 worth of damage in four separate incidents between March 28 and November 15 this year.

Ministerial office car insurance claims show the Minns-mobiles — one used in the morning shift and the other in the afternoon — copped damage to the boot, rear panel, lights, bumper and guards, windscreen, driver’s door and mirror in separate incidents.

The Sauce understands Minns was not behind the wheel at the time of the incidents.

Police Minister Yasmin Catley. Picture: Monique Harmer

Minister for Women Jodie Harrison. Picture: Tim Pascoe

The details of damage to the state’s ministerial fleet are contained in insurance claims released via freedom of information requests.

Alas, the information only indicates which office had the car, not who was behind the wheel – that is, a minister, ministerial driver or staffer.

The Sauce recalls a former NSW Nationals leader once damaged four cars by driving one into a creek after wiping out a kangaroo, slamming into the back of a car, hitting an airport pay station and becoming the victim of a carpark hit-and-run — setting a record that has yet to be broken.

The insurance log shows a car assigned to the premier’s office was involved in an incident on April 11 which resulted in $3935 claim for “damage to driver’s door and mirror”.

Another claim was lodged on May 29 for “scratch marks on the bumper front passenger side and left side fender of the vehicle”, totalling $1281.

Premier Chris Minns. Picture: David Swift

A $19,192 claim was also lodged for “damage to boot, rear panel, lights, bumper and guards” for an incident that occurred on September 25.

Three days later — on September 28 — a separate claim was made for “windscreen damage”, totally $4159.

The ministerial car that was assigned to the office of former Liberal minister Rob Stokes was next on the list, with a $6621 claim for “damage to frontside of the vehicle”.

The next highest value claim was Catley’s, with more than $6000 worth of “hail dents”.

Hail also dented the car assigned to Harrison’s office. who lodged a claim of $3795. Harrison’s car was also the subject of a separate claim for “vehicle impact damage to side kerb”, totalling $2619.

Damage on the “driver’s side spoiler” of the car assigned to State Opposition Leader Mark Speakman resulted in an insurance claim of $2159. Not covered was $2482 worth of damage from a separate incident that left one side of the car with scrapes and dents.

Also not covered by insurance was the fuel mix-up in Aitchison’s ministerial car.

The Sauce understands it was Aitchison’s driver who accidentally used the wrong fuel, and prevented any costly damage by having it removed – quick action that saved the car and only cost $561 to remedy.

BAIRD KEEPS OPTIONS OPEN

Former NSW premier Mike Baird is keeping his options open.

Having never publicly ruled out a future tilt at Canberra, the announcement this week that Baird will be stepping down from his role as HammondCare chief executive has sent Liberals hoping for a “band reunion” into meltdown.

Recent polling conducted in the federal seat of Warringah suggests Baird remains a live prospect for the party hoping to topple teal independent Zali Steggall, who intends to run again.

Mike Baird has not ruled a tilt at federal politics. Picture: Russell Millard Photography

While the Cricket Australia chair was keeping mum when The Sauce made contact — no doubt interfering with his viewing of the first Test — two Liberals who claimed to have insights say Baird has not ruled it out, but wants have a purpose for a return.

In the meantime, Baird is understood to be exploring other career opportunities in the private sector.

One former NSW MP — who is contemplating a federal tilt but awaiting the latest redistribution — mused over the likelihood of former premier Dominic Perrottet, ex-treasurer Matt Kean and ex-police minister David Elliott heading to Canberra.

“If Baird runs, maybe we could get the band back together,” the ex-MP said.

At least one Liberal declared Baird should indicate early if he was a prospect, claiming the ongoing speculation was “unhelpful” to prospective Liberal candidates contemplating running for Warringah.

COVER UP ANGER

Furious veterans and widows have been told by City of Sydney that they will in future be informed ahead of any gathering being held at Martin Place after a marquee, tables and chairs were placed over the commando war memorial as part of Christmas event.

The event was held as part of the St Vincent de Paul annual Christmas appeal to raise more than $1 million for those in need, and involved “50 fundraising seats” to a morning tea and a concert.

However, it was the “inappropriate” location of the event that upset veterans.

“There were chairs and tables around the memorial — it was just inappropriate, and upset several veterans who called me about it, including a widow,” a veteran source said.

The memorial seat was originally dedicated on January 31 in 1982, in honour of those who served in World War II.

The ‘inappropriate’ marquee, tables and chairs at commando war memorial in Martin Place.

A new plaque has since been installed, which includes those who served in subsequent conflicts and peacekeeping missions, including Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq and Timor-Leste.

It was rededicated by the Australian Commando Association (NSW) on Remembrance Day in 2020.

City of Sydney initially declared that the council “did not issue any permits for this location”.

But in a separate council response to a veteran complaint, it said the event had been approved.

However, the response — obtained by The Sauce — said council did not approve chairs and tables being placed on the memorial.

City of Sydney initially declared that the council “did not issue any permits for this location” before declaring in a separate response that it had.

However, it said it did not approve chairs and tables being placed on the memorial, nor the marquee covering the top of the memorial.

“This was never approved by council and Vinnies were in breach of their approval conditions,” the letter read.

A Vinnies spokeswoman said the event set-up was approved by the City of Sydney.

“Any encroachment on the Commando War Memorial Seat was not intentional,” she said.

“We hold utmost respect for veterans, their families and their service.”

The council declared future event applications/proposals will be sent to the RSL for their ‘no objection’ before final approvals were issued for the space.

VIRAL VID

How much can a koala bear?

In the case of “Kate” the koala: being hit by a car.

MP Kate Washington helps to release her koala namesake back into the world after it was tended to at Port Stephens Koala Hospital.

We were going to say “being named after the local pollie”, but given that local pollie — Families and Communities Minister Kate Washington — secured the seed funding that led to the establishment of the Port Stephens Koala Hospital where Kate (the koala) was brought back to health, we won’t.

Washington recently shared a video of herself releasing her cute namesake at Nelson Bay Golf Club.

At last count, more than half a million people had watched the vid.

PARTY ON

Depending on who you talk to, The Nationals’ annual Christmas knees-up was either “a shitload of fun” or a subdued affair where “half the relatives hate the other half”.

Held at Otto Ristorante in Woolloomooloo, MPs played the “Santa present steal” game where players draw a number, and select a gift before deciding if they keep it or steal someone else’s.

The Sauce hears “a bottle of Bolly” was the most stolen gift, with Wes Fang apparently walking away with the prize.

Some MPs started early at the Woolloomooloo Hotel before making their way to Otto, where about 50 cocktails were downed, according to one attendee.

“It was as shitload of fun,” one said.

However, not everyone appeared to have a good time.

In a sign there are still tensions over the leadership of Dugald Saunders, one MP described the event as a subdued affair attended only because of duty.

“It was one of those things where half the family hate the other half,” the MP said.

PAYDAY

Within days of the Labor taking the helm of NSW government, senior bureaucrats were being shown the door.

Among those made redundant included NSW Department of Education secretary Georgina Harrisson, who left after two years in the top job and more than five years with the department.

According to new figures tabled in parliament recently, Harrisson was one of five public service senior executives who had their employment terminated.

But they didn’t go empty-handed — the figures also show the bureaucrats walked away with a combined total of more than $1.7 million in redundancy pay.

As for Harrisson, she has already moved on to a new gig as a non-executive director for Autism Spectrum Australia, a job her LinkedIn profile says she has had since November.

However, Harrisson has kept her finger in the education pie, recently posting about policy development in the education system.

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