Unpublished article hints teals have found new candidate

It appears the “teal” movement may have found a candidate to support in toppling another Liberal, in this case in the prized blue-ribbon seat of Berowra.

It appears the “teal” movement may have found a candidate to support in toppling another Liberal, in this case in the prized blue-ribbon seat of Berowra.

The Sauce had heard whispers former Fire & Rescue Commissioner Greg Mullins may have been in the frame to run as the “teal” independent in the northern Sydney seat.

However, our operatives believe it now might be local magazine editor Tina Brown after unearthing an editorial sitting on the internet – not “published but able to be found via a URL” – in which she announces her candidacy.

“It is my absolute pleasure to announce to readers of The Post that I will be running for the seat of Berowra in the 2025 federal election,” Ms Brown declares in the article.

“I never thought that life would take me down the political path (surely there must be better candidates), but after several community members expressed their trust and potential support it got me thinking.”

LinkedIn post by Tina Brown regarding a photo shoot she had done.

The question is, has the article been pre-written “just in case” or is it a done deal?

Brown’s LinkedIn profile also included a shout out to a photographer after a photo shoot this week.

The Voices of Berowra group has been searching for a candidate to support in Berowra for the past few weeks.

Once a candidate is chosen, Climate 200 – which has been supporting other “Voices of” candidates – may step in to fund and support the campaign.

Interestingly, Voices of Berowra Inc was legally registered as Voices of Bennelong Inc until August this year.

Former Fire and Rescue NSW commissioner Greg Mullins. Picture: Richard Dobson

The name change has been seized upon by Liberal Senator Dave Sharma, whose former seat of Wentworth is now held by “teal” independent Allegra Spender.

Sharma claims the move away from Labor-held Bennelong to Liberal-held Berowra was evidence the “teal” movement was not “independent”.

“The teals in Parliament vote with the Greens and Labor over 70 per cent of the time. And they never target Labor MPs, only Liberal MPs,” he said.

“That’s why Voices of Bennelong has had to suddenly become Voices of Berowra, so that they can target a Liberal MP. It has nothing to do with community!”

A Voices of Berowra spokesman told The Sauce that the chosen candidate will be unveiled 4pm Sunday.

Stay tuned.

SEAT SCRAMBLE

With Nationals MP Sam Farraway fleeing Macquarie Street to try his luck snagging the independent-held federal seat of Calare, the jostling is underway among candidate hopefuls wanting to replace him.

Among those hoping to fill the NSW Upper House vacancy include Nichole Overall, who replaced former NSW Nationals leader John Barilaro in the seat of Monaro before being ousted at the election by Labor MP Steve Whan.

Former Monaro MP Nichole Overall with ex-Nationals leader John Barilaro.

Also in the race is Olivia Kerr, who we hear is a nuclear physicist and a former director of policy and research with the NSW Australian Hotels Association.

NSW Upper House hopeful Olivia Kerr. Pic: Linkedin.

Other names in the mix include Paul Cocking, Michael Cooper, Steve DeGunst, Paul Harmon and Nathan Jones.

Party selectors will choose the successful candidate on Thursday.

‘STOLEN’ JACKET

Premier Chris Minns receives so many gifts that he can probably be forgiven for accidentally “nicking” a jacket he was handed as part of a photo shoot recently.

It is understood Minns was given the Collaroy Surf Life Saving Club (SLSC) jacket as part of an event.

Thinking it was a gift, Minns promptly declared the item in his disclosure log, noting how he would be surrendering it to the NSW Cabinet Office.

Dubbed the Aladdin’s Cave of Rejected Gifts, the Office is understood to be filled with scores of unwanted items handed to pollies from a Hermes scarf to trinkets from international dignitaries.

However, six weeks after surrendering the $500 jacket, Minns’ office was contacted by the surf club asking for its jacket back.

According to a letter from a senior Minns staffer to the Cabinet Office – released via a GIPA by Liberal MP Matt Cross – the club had clarified the jacket “was not provided as a gift but was temporarily provided to the Premier to be used for event purposes”.

We hear the jacket has since be returned to its rightful owner.

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