Backroom Baz: Mitch Catlin’s moonlighting ruffles Liberal colleagues’ feathers

Matthew Guy’s new chief of staff, Mitch Catlin, is raising eyebrows, spruiking not for his beloved leader but his own business venture.

New kid on the Spring St block Mitch Catlin for Buy Aussie Now.

New kid on the Spring St block Mitch Catlin is raising the eyebrows of some of his new colleagues.

Opposition Leader Matthew Guy’s new chief of staff, whose run in politics comes after high-profile gigs at Swisse and Myer, is having a hard time leaving his old life behind: in particular his Buy Aussie Now enterprise.

The venture started as an Instagram page but has transformed into an Australian marketplace backed by big-time investors.

Eyebrows were raised in recent weeks when Catlin popped up on morning TV spruiking the business he founded.

“While the opposition should be focusing on defeating the government’s new emergency powers, its chief of staff is spending time doing advertorials to boost his business,” one outraged Liberal said.

Baz agrees, such moonlighting is a bizarre look.

However, Baz has been assured the ads were old and filmed before Catlin moved to Spring St.

Still, it says much about the division that continues to split the party when such briefing against the leader’s office is still taking place.

They just can’t seem to help themselves.

Mitch Catlin when he was on the campaign trail for Buy Aussie Now, with director Chris White. Picture: Alex Coppel

PAKULA LOOKS FOR A NEW HOME

Things are heating up in the world of preselection speculation.

Baz is reliably informed the Labor factions are expected to meet next week to knuckle down on a carve-up of seats before the next state election.

The big topic on everyone’s lips is where the party will accommodate Major Events Minister Martin Pakula.

It was initially suggested Pakula would remain in the lower house but the chatter is now ramping up that the right-aligned factions could reach an agreement that sees him return to much more extravagant decor of the Legislative Council.

Nothing is set in stone but it’s expected a deal, which could hamper any future leadership ambitions, is looming.

Martin Pakula is looking for a new seat after a change in electoral boundaries. Picture: David Geraghty

SMITH TALKS HIS WAY INTO NEW GIG?

With John Roskam set to stand down as executive director of the right-wing corporate funded think tank the Institute of Public Affairs, Spring St has got to talking about who might take his place.

The whisper in Baz’s ear is that soon to be departed drink-drive MP Tim Smith could be the frontrunner.

“The job seems perfect for a bloke with a big mouth who needs both a microphone and a job next year,” one well-placed source said.

It would certainly give Smith something to do, while keeping a public profile that could one day see him back in Spring St … or Canberra.

Whispers have Tim Smith taking a job at the Institute of Public Affairs. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

SINGING TIM’S PRAISES

While we’re speaking about the member for Kew, a statement issued by federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg following Smith’s announcement he had quit politics last week piqued Baz’s interest.

A statement to his electorate fawning over a drink-drive MP who crashed his car into a family home, despite Frydenberg privately conceding Smith had to leave parliament.

Singing the praises of Smith as a “dedicated and passionate member of the Liberal Party” and “relentless and effective advocate in the Victorian parliament, holding the Andrews government to account.”

How very kind. But why?

Is Josh Frydenberg spooked by Tim Smith. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Was the motive to keep Smith onside given some well placed Liberal spies suggest he continues to feel hard done by and betrayed over the way in which his career has so suddenly come to an end.

He’s still not speaking with former best pal Matthew Guy.

And spies suggest threats of some “tell-all” revelations have spooked both Guy and Frydenberg.

“Tim knows better than most where the skeletons are buried. And no one wants him opening his mouth”.

As always, watch this space.

GLISTENING WITH BRISTLE

It’s that one month of the year where ’70s porn star chic is in vogue: Movember!

Upper lips across Spring St are glistening with bristle, and at least one upper house MP is on his way to being mistaken for Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar.

Government MP Lee Tarlamis is a regular on the Movember circuit and has raised thousands in support of men’s health.

This year already he’s smashed his $1500 target, and we’ve still got another week to go.

So Baz can only tip his hat and say, bien hecho!

Lee Tarlamis has already smashed his mo and $1500 charity target.

Pablo Escobar’s moustache work.

SO LONG ED

Spring St lifer Ed O’Donohue called it quits this week, ending a 15 year career as a Liberal MP.

Baz’s ears pricked up during his farewell speech in parliament, with this juicy anecdote about his elevation to Cabinet Minister for Corrections, Crime Prevention and Liquor and Gaming Regulation under Premier Denis Napthine in 2013.

Over to Ed: “(Denis) said, ‘Ed, these portfolios are perfect for you’.

I was waiting for Denis to say, ‘You’ve done a great job as an MP. You’re very smart. You come with real skills’.

Ed O’Donohue and Matthew Guy. Picture: David Geraghty

He looked me in the eye with a straight face and said, ‘Ed, it’s widely known that the majority of prisoners are Collingwood supporters, and given that you’re Collingwood, too, you will be able to relate to them and work with them’.

He then went on to say, ‘I want you to be the Minister for Liquor and Gaming Regulation because with an Irish name like O’Donohue you have a natural understanding of both drinking and gambling’.”

And who said Spring St was a meritocracy! Go well, Ed.

GUESS WHO

Which MP was spotted dining with a controversial ex-staffer this week?

Originally published as Backroom Baz: Mitch Catlin’s moonlighting ruffles Liberal colleagues’ feathers