Backroom Baz: Liberal MPs learn fate over poo prank stunt

What do you get when you dump a turd outside the Premier’s office as part of an ill thought out protest? The Liberal MPs who allegedly caused the stink have found out.

Bev McArthur arrives at a Liberal Party lunch at Society. Picture: Brendan Beckett

What do you get when you dump a turd outside the Premier’s office as part of an ill thought out protest?

You get slapped with a ban on bringing guests into Parliament House. So found out Liberal MP Bev McArthur who caused a stink after she was referred to the parliament’s privileges committee, alongside Warrandyte MP Nicole Werner, amid allegations they helped organise the gift wrapped cow patty to be left at Jacinta Allan’s office in protest to the government’s new fire services levy.

Bev McArthur has learnt her fate over her role in a poo prank stunt. Picture: Supplied

Baz is told the matter has now been settled, with no further action to come, and the only sanction was that which was slapped on McArthur – nothing for Werner.

Not that it had much of an impact, McArthur just used party room chums Moira Deeming and Joe McCracken to sign guests in on her behalf, meaning all was well in Bev’s world and she could hold court at lunch as anyone who has frequented one of the parliament’s cafes knows she so loves to do.

The ban runs out at the end of the month.

Premier avoids the plunge but chips in for great cause

Baz loves seeing pollies get along, particularly when they are as ideologically opposed as the Nationals and the Greens. Political staffers, business figures, journos and a host of MPs from across politics gathered in the parliament gardens for the spectacle in support of MP Emma Vulin, who is living with Motor Neurone Disease.

Emma Vulin is living with Motor Neurone Disease. Picture: David Smith

While couch-bound Deputy Liberal leader Sam Groth pulled out at the last minute, 11 other pollies from all sides of the chamber were left shivering and shaking after the epic dunking.

The inaugural FREEZE Parliament event was a huge success, with donations surpassing the $50,000 target before the dunkings even started.

Despite Deputy Premier Ben Carroll’s best efforts, Strictly Ballroom star turned Labor MP Paul Mercurio snatched the fundraising crown by just $300, bringing in $11,000 out of a total $56,000.

Premier Jacinta Allan declined a dunking but was among the top donors, chipping in $1000, alongside former Labor MP Philip Dalidakis. Maybe she’ll take the plunge next year?

Great Debate pits pollies against journos

Spring St’s newest annual event, the Great Debate between pollies and journalists, returned for the second time this week.

And it was bigger and better than last year’s inaugural event. Parliament’s legislative assembly was packed to the rafters on Thursday to see the unlikely coalition of MPs Gabriellie Williams, Jade Benham and David Hodgett, take on the ABC’s Raf Epstein, the AFR’s Sumeyya Ilanbey and 3AW’s Tom Elliott arguing that MPs should be replaced by AI versions.

The opposing teams of this year’s Great Debate.

Singing speaker Sammy J made a comeback as adjudicator, with thousands raised for Need for Feed to support drought-stricken farmers.

The media team took home the cup this year. Deputy Premier Ben Carroll, health minster Mary-Anne Thomas and Nationals leader Danny O’Brien were among a host of MPs turning out to support the event.

Secret Service makes their mark on Spring St

It’s not often you see the United States Secret Service marching around Spring St.

They briefly took over the hallways this week during a visit from Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer who was in town to strengthen business ties, and tout her state’s industry sectors.

Sources close to Premier Jacinta Allan said the pair hit it off, “like a house on fire”.

Hardly surprising, ahead of their meeting Whitmer tweeted about her plans to build affordable housing all across Michigan “revitalising communities and helping more families make it in Michigan.”

Right up JA’s alley. Baz will be keeping watch to see which homes get built faster.

Regional revolt against Premier from the regions

She might be a Premier from the regions, but that hasn’t stopped the regional revolt against Jacinta Allan.

Premier Jacinta Allan speaks at a rural press club lunch in Bendigo. Picture: David Geraghty

Complaints about her government’s tardy response to the drought crisis alongside the threat of the new fire services levy- which has been paused for 12 months but will increase fees for farmers by up to 200 per cent in some cases if resumed next year – have made her somewhat of a target regionally.

Take the Willaura Bakery in western Victoria, where the Premier has been unceremoniously banned. Which means no award-winning vanilla slices for her.

Locals say the slices are the best in the state. Don’t they all say that?

Guess who?

Which minister quietly celebrated their 40th birthday this week?

Overheard

“I loathe laziness and those who are just intellectual pygmies.” – Finance Minister Danny Pearson attacking shadow treasurerJames Newbury.

Originally published as Backroom Baz: Liberal MPs learn fate over poo prank stunt