Backroom Baz: Polished Premier still has a fight on her hands to win election

Jacinta Allan has a verifiable spring in her step of late but let’s not sugar coat the giant task she is facing in her race for a historic fourth consecutive term in government.

Anyone who watches Spring St closely would have noticed Jacinta Allan has a verifiable spring in her step of late.

Her social media presence has never been so polished, she’s oozing confidence at press conferences and twice this week she has captivated rooms of Melbourne’s movers and shakers, first at an Israel Independence Day event and then at the inaugural $3000-a-head Melbourne Autumn Ball.

Jacinta Allan and Paul Guerra at the Melbourne Autumn Ball. Picture: David Crosling

Spies at both events said Allan captivated both rooms and was very warmly received by business and industry leaders, and the who’s who of Melbourne. If politics is all about momentum, Allan is building it.

Still, let’s not sugar coat the giant task she is facing in her race for a historic fourth consecutive term in government – something that was not lost on her this week after a Suburban Rail Loop sub committee of Cabinet meeting.

Baz is told there were “some very unhappy ministers” who emerged from the meeting “ashen faced”. The cause of the angst not quite clear, but it’s understood some serious concerns are now being discussed among Allan’s Cabinet, some of whom have long been critical of the project.

Some others are now coming to the same view, it’s understood.

Federal Liberal candidate denies he’s eyeing a tilt at state parliament

In the wake of the federal election Baz brought news that a slew of successful Liberal candidates were being sized up for a potential run at state parliament. Among them, Corangamite candidate Darcy Dunstan to run in the state seat of South Barwon, currently held by expelled Labor MP Darren Cheeseman.

Corangamite candidate Darcy Dunstan and state Liberal leader Brad Battin were spotted sharing a beverage at Kardinia Park.

So Baz was intrigued to see this picture of Dunstan with party leader Brad Battin at Kardinia Park last week. While the Cats fought out an impressive win against the Bulldogs on the park, were Dunstan and Battin talking about next year’s election?

Dunstan told Baz’s friends at the Geelong Advertiser a potential Spring St run was not discussed. “We were just having a beer and watching the footy, he’s a big Cats supporter,” Dunstan said.

“I’ve just had a kid and my focus is on my family at the moment.”

Kooyong candidate, Amelia Hamer, has also apparently ruled out running at the state election. Watch this space.

Herald Sun reporter packs up his notepad

Baz has a rule to keep his good friends well away from this column, but rules are made to be broken. After almost five years on Spring St, Herald Sun reporter Mitch Clarke has packed up his notepad and pen and decided it’d be more fun being in politics than writing about it.

Clarke will start this week as the chief of staff for Animal Justice Party’s Georgie Purcell, where he’ll combine his passion for politics and animals.

Mitch Clarke and Georgie Purcell.

Traverse the political divide and you’ll find friends of Clarke everywhere: from ministers to backbenchers, from Legalise Cannabis to the Nationals.

Premier Jacinta Allan tipped her hat to Clarke this week, giving him quite the send off after their final press conference together. “He’s had more farewells than Dame Nellie Melba,” she said. “I’m going to wish Mitch a fond farewell. You’ve been a good colleague for the gallery, a good participant in our robust exchanges, and I look forward to responding to press releases about dogs, ducks, horses, into the future. All the best.” Here, here.

Libs’ post-budget lunch falls flat

The Liberal Party’s post-budget lunch has been a fixture on Spring St for some years now. It’s become a chance for business and industry figures, and the all important donors, to rub shoulders with MPs, contemplate the state of the economy, and quiz the shadow Treasurer about his vision for Victoria.

There’s been various iterations of the years, but they usually always involve a swanky venue, a fancy lunch, and a spot up the back for the media. Not this year.

For reasons unclear to Baz the decision was made to switch the event from a ballroom to a boardroom, with the Liberal Party’s headquarters set as the venue. There are differing versions as to why, but most agree that a lack of planning and foresight meant crowd numbers were too small to warrant anything more substantial.

That was, at least, until Thursday when the venue was changed to fancy Collins St restaurant Society. Baz is told Liberals were madly hitting the phones on Thursday night trying to drum up interest. Very odd. Baz would love to tell you more about the event, but he wasn’t invited.

Wedding bells ring on Spring St

Wedding bells on Spring St, with the engagement of Nationals MP Melina Bath to her partner of 19 years, Gary. Bath, a former school teacher and small business owner, was proposed to in a gift shop in Turkey. It’s not the only matrimonial news to share this week.

The Liberal Party’s media director, Dom Raff, is set to tie the knot to his partner Charlotte next week.

The festivities should make a nice change from the stresses of Spring St life, if he can manage to turn his phone off. Congratulations, all.

Originally published as Backroom Baz: Polished Premier still has a fight on her hands to win election